French Phrase
C'est le 15.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to state the current date in French. It combines the demonstrative pronoun 'ce' with the verb 'être' to identify the specific day of the month.
When to use
Use this when someone asks for the date or when you are confirming an appointment on the calendar. It is suitable for both formal and informal situations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estle15
C'est
A contraction of 'ce' (it/this) and 'est' (is), used to identify or present something.
Le
The definite article 'the', which is mandatory before numbers when expressing the date in French.
🗨In Conversation
Quelle est la date aujourd'hui ?
What is the date today?
C'est le 15.
It is the 15th.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est 15.
French requires the definite article 'le' before the number when stating the date.
C'est le 15ème.
Unlike English, French uses cardinal numbers for dates, except for the first of the month.
↔Alternatives
On est le 15.
It's the 15th (informal).
Nous sommes le 15.
We are the 15th (formal).
Cultural Tip
In France, the date is always preceded by the masculine article 'le'. While English speakers use ordinal numbers like '15th', French speakers only use the ordinal for the first of the month, 'le 1er' (le premier).