B1 Time Expressions 1 min read Facile

Expressing Dates and Years

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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Dates in Croatian use ordinal numbers in the genitive case, while years are cardinal numbers.

  • Days are ordinal: 'prvi' (1st), 'drugi' (2nd), etc.
  • Months are genitive: 'u siječnju' (in January).
  • Years use cardinal numbers: 'godine 2024.' (in the year 2024).
Day (Ordinal) + Month (Genitive) + Year (Cardinal + 'godine')

Meanings

This rule governs how to correctly state specific calendar dates and historical or future years in Croatian.

1

Calendar Dates

Stating the day, month, and year of an event.

“Rođen sam dvanaestog svibnja.”

“Danas je petnaesti kolovoza.”

2

Historical Years

Referring to a specific year in history or the future.

“Godine tisuću devetsto devedeset prve.”

“U godini dvije tisuće petoj.”

Ordinal Numbers for Dates

Number Ordinal (M) Ordinal (F) Ordinal (N)
1 prvi prva prvo
2 drugi druga drugo
3 treći treća treće
4 četvrti četvrta četvrto
5 peti peta peto
10 deseti deseta deseto
20 dvadeseti dvadeseta dvadeseto
31 trideset prvi trideset prva trideset prvo

Reference Table

Reference table for Expressing Dates and Years
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Ordinal + Month (Gen) Danas je prvi svibnja.
Negative Nije + Ordinal + Month Danas nije prvi svibnja.
Question Koji je danas datum? Koji je danas datum?
Year Godine + Cardinal Godine dvije tisuće.
Full Date Day + Month + Year Prvi svibnja 2024.
Short Answer Ordinal + Month Drugog lipnja.

Spectre de formalité

Formel
Danas je prvi svibnja.

Danas je prvi svibnja. (Daily life)

Neutre
Danas je prvi svibnja.

Danas je prvi svibnja. (Daily life)

Informel
Danas je prvi petog.

Danas je prvi petog. (Daily life)

Argot
Prvi peti.

Prvi peti. (Daily life)

Date Structure Map

Datum

Day

  • prvi 1st

Month

  • siječnja of January

Year

  • godine year
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Exemples par niveau

1

Danas je prvi siječnja.

Today is January 1st.

2

Moj rođendan je desetog ožujka.

My birthday is March 10th.

1

Sastanak je petog svibnja.

The meeting is on May 5th.

2

Godine dvije tisuće dvadesete.

In the year 2020.

1

Rođen sam dvanaestog studenog dvije tisuće prve godine.

I was born on November 12th, 2001.

2

Događaj je zakazan za dvadeset drugi lipnja.

The event is scheduled for June 22nd.

1

Ugovor je potpisan tridesetog rujna dvije tisuće dvadeset treće godine.

The contract was signed on September 30th, 2023.

2

Povijesni datum je četrnaesti srpnja.

The historical date is July 14th.

1

Odluka stupa na snagu prvog dana prosinca, godine dvije tisuće dvadeset pete.

The decision takes effect on the first day of December, 2025.

2

Svečanost se održava osamnaestog kolovoza.

The ceremony is held on August 18th.

1

Dana dvadeset i petog veljače, ljeta Gospodnjega dvije tisuće dvadeset četvrtoga.

On the 25th of February, in the year of our Lord 2024.

2

Događaj datira od sedmog listopada.

The event dates back to October 7th.

Facile à confondre

Expressing Dates and Years vs Ordinal vs Cardinal

Using cardinal numbers for dates.

Erreurs courantes

✗

Jedan siječanj

✓

Prvi siječnja

Use ordinal numbers.
✗

Petog svibanj

✓

Petog svibnja

Month must be genitive.
✗

Godina 2024.

✓

Godine 2024.

Year needs genitive 'godine'.
✗

Dvadesetog ožujak

✓

Dvadesetog ožujka

Consistency in genitive.

Structures de phrases

Danas je ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Scheduling very common

Sastanak je 10. svibnja.

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💡

Dots matter

Always write a dot after the day number.

Smart Tips

Always add a dot.

1 maj → 1. svibnja

Prononciation

PRVI

Ordinal stress

Stress usually falls on the first syllable.

Declarative

Danas je PRVI svibnja.

Neutral statement.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Remember: 'Days are Ordinal, Months are Genitive, Years are Cardinal.'

Association visuelle

Imagine a calendar where the days are wearing crowns (ordinal) and the months are hiding in a dark cave (genitive case).

Rhyme

Za datum broj redni, za mjesec padež genitivni.

Story

I woke up on the 1st (prvi) of January. I walked into the cave of January (siječnja). I saw a giant sign saying 'Year 2024' (godine 2024).

Word Web

prvisiječnjagodinedatumrođendankalendar

Défi

Write down the birthdays of 5 friends using the full Croatian format.

Notes culturelles

Croatians use the DD.MM.YYYY format strictly.

Derived from Slavic ordinal systems.

Amorces de conversation

“

Koji je danas datum?

Sujets d'écriture

Write about your birthday.
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Test Yourself

Select the correct date format. Choix multiple

Danas je ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Ordinal + Genitive.

Score: /1

Exercices pratiques

1 exercises
Select the correct date format. Choix multiple

Danas je ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a
Ordinal + Genitive.

Score: /1

FAQ (1)

The dot signifies an ordinal number in Croatian.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

El primero de mayo

Croatian uses ordinals for all days.

French moderate

Le premier mai

Croatian uses ordinals for all days.

German moderate

Der erste Mai

Croatian requires genitive months.

Japanese low

Gogatsu tsuitachi

Japanese uses specific counters.

Arabic low

Al-awwal min mayu

Croatian uses ordinals for every day.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Agreement of Ordinal Numbers
Next
Time Expressions with Days of the Week and Months

Related Grammar Rules

B1

Prepositions for Time and Duration (tijekom, za vrijeme, nakon)
B1

Instrumental for Time (e.g., ljeti, noću)
A0

Basic Time Expressions (Sada, Danas)
A1

Telling Time (Koliko je sati?)
A1

Prepositions for Time (prije, poslije)
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