How Do We Say Years in English?

Saying years in English is different from saying other numbers. We often divide the year into two parts.

• For years before 2000, we say the first two digits, then the last two digits.
• 1984 is nineteen eighty-four.
• 1776 is seventeen seventy-six.

For years from 2000 to 2009, we usually say two thousand and, then the last number.

• 2001 is two thousand and one.
• 2007 is two thousand and seven.

For years from 2010 onwards, you can say two thousand and X または twenty X.

• 2015 is two thousand and fifteen または twenty fifteen.
• 2023 is two thousand and twenty-three または twenty twenty-three.

For years ending in 00, like 1900, we say nineteen hundred. For years like 1905, we say nineteen oh five.

How Do We Say Dates in English?

When we say dates, we use ordinal numbers. These are words like first, second, third, fourth, and so on.

There are two common ways to say a date:

• The day of the month: the first of January.
• The month and then the day: January the first.

Both ways are correct. In spoken English, January the first is very common.

Remember to add -st, -nd, -rd, 、または -th to most numbers when writing the date, for example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Which Prepositions Do We Use with Dates and Years?

We use different prepositions for different parts of time.

• Use on for specific days or dates.
• My birthday is on July 16th.
• The meeting is on Monday.

• Use in for months, years, seasons, or longer periods.
• I was born in July.
• She moved here in 2020.
• The weather is cold in winter.

Examples

• The year 1999 is nineteen ninety-nine.
• The year 2005 is two thousand and five.
• The year 2018 is twenty eighteen.
• My birthday is on May 5th.
• Christmas is on December 25th.
• The party is on the tenth of June.
• I started school in 2008.
• Her vacation is in August.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:

• Using cardinal numbers for dates: In Spanish, you might say “el dos de enero” (the two of January). In English, you must use ordinal numbers.
• Incorrect: My birthday is on January two.
• Correct: My birthday is on January second.
• Incorrect: The event is on five May.
• Correct: The event is on May fifth.

• Incorrect prepositions: Using in for specific dates instead of on.
• Incorrect: I was born in October 20th.
• Correct: I was born on October 20th.

よくある質問

How do I say years like 1900?

For years ending in 00, like 1900 または 1800, we say nineteen hundred または eighteen hundred.

What about years like 2005?

For years from 2000 to 2009, say two thousand and X. So, 2005 is two thousand and five.

Do I say the first of January or January first?

Both are correct! The first of January is more formal, and January first is very common in everyday speech.

What preposition do I use for a specific date?

Always use on for specific dates, like on July 4th または on my birthday.