French Phrase
On est le 21 avril.
Meaning
This is the most common way to state the current date in spoken French. It uses the indefinite pronoun 'on' paired with the verb 'être' to mean 'It is' or 'Today is'.
When to use
Use this phrase in daily conversation when answering a question about the date or identifying the day in a journal or meeting. It is slightly more informal than 'Nous sommes' but perfectly acceptable in most social and professional situations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestle21avril
On
In this context, 'on' acts as an impersonal subject similar to 'it' or 'we' in English.
est
The third-person singular conjugation of 'être' (to be).
le
The definite article 'le' is mandatory before the number when stating the date in French.
🗨In Conversation
Quelle est la date d'aujourd'hui ?
What is today's date?
On est le 21 avril.
It is April 21st.
✕Common Mistakes
On est au 21 avril.
In French, you must use the definite article 'le' before a date, not the preposition 'au'.
C'est 21 avril.
While 'C'est' can be used, 'On est' or 'Nous sommes' is preferred for the current date, and you must never forget the 'le' before the number.
↔Alternatives
Nous sommes le 21 avril.
We are the 21st of April (Formal).
C'est le 21 avril.
It is April 21st (Casual).
Cultural Tip
In French-speaking countries, dates are always written in the Day/Month/Year format. Also, remember that only the first day of the month uses an ordinal number ('le 1er' or 'le premier'); all other days use standard cardinal numbers like '21'.