Knowing how to talk about dates is one of the most practical skills you can develop in English. Whether you need to fill out an application, celebrate a holiday, or simply answer the question "When is your birthday?", understanding months of the year, ordinal numbers, and date formats will help you communicate with confidence.
How do you pronounce the months of the year in English?
The first step is to get comfortable with the twelve months. Practicing their pronunciation out loud is essential for building fluency [0:20]. Here is the complete list:
- January.
- February.
- March.
- April.
- May.
- June.
- July.
- August.
- September.
- October.
- November.
- December.
If any of these words feel difficult, go back and repeat them until you feel confident. Pronunciation improves with repetition.
What is the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers?
In English, there are two types of numbers that serve different purposes [1:30]. Cardinal numbers express quantities: one dog, two houses, three pets. Ordinal numbers express order and sequence: first, second, third.
When talking about dates, you always use ordinal numbers because you are referring to the position of a day within a month. For example, you don't say "February twenty-one" in formal date expressions — you say "February 21st."
How do ordinal numbers sound when you say them?
Most ordinal numbers end with the TH sound [2:15]. For instance, four becomes fourth, seven becomes seventh, and ten becomes tenth. However, there are three special cases:
- First (1st) — uses the superscript ST.
- Second (2nd) — uses the superscript ND.
- Third (3rd) — uses the superscript RD.
The superscript refers to the small letters written next to the number to indicate it is ordinal and not cardinal [3:10]. This visual cue is important in written English.
What happens with numbers 11, 12, and 13?
Here is a key exception to remember [3:55]. Numbers 11, 12, and 13 do not follow the pattern of first, second, and third. Instead, they become eleventh (11th), twelfth (12th), and thirteenth (13th). All three end with the TH sound.
Once you reach 20, the pattern resets: 21st (twenty-first), 22nd (twenty-second), 23rd (twenty-third). From there, 24th through 30th use TH again. This cycle continues for 30, 40, 50, and beyond. The only exception in the entire number system is the 11th, 12th, and 13th group.
How do you answer "When is your birthday" correctly?
There are two ways to respond [5:50]:
- Short answer: use only the month with the preposition in. Example: "My birthday is in February."
- Complete answer: use the month and the day with the preposition on. Example: "My birthday is on February 21st."
Both options are correct, but providing the full date with the ordinal number is more common and gives more detail.
You can apply the same structure to other celebrations:
- When is Halloween Day?
- When is Christmas Day?
- When is Saint Valentine's Day?
These questions follow the exact same format, so practicing with holidays is a great way to reinforce ordinal numbers and months.
Why does the date format matter so much?
One critical detail when writing dates in English is the format difference between countries [7:15]. In most countries, the format is day/month/year. In the United States, however, the format is month/day/year.
This means the date 02/12/2021 can be interpreted in two completely different ways:
- Most countries: December 2nd, 2021.
- United States: February 12th, 2021.
This distinction is especially important when you are filling out documents, completing online applications, or booking travel. Always check which format is being used to avoid confusion.
Practice writing your birthday and a few important dates using both formats. Share your answers and keep building your confidence with ordinal numbers — they are a small detail that makes a big difference in everyday English.
