French Phrase
On est quelle date aujourd'hui ?
Meaning
This is an informal and very common way to ask for the current date in French. It uses the indefinite pronoun 'on' which acts as a collective 'we' or 'one' in spoken language. The phrase is direct and efficient for everyday inquiries about the calendar.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings like with friends, classmates, or coworkers. It is the go-to expression when you need to fill out a document or check your schedule in a relaxed environment.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestquelledateaujourd'hui
On
In spoken French, 'on' is used extensively as a substitute for 'nous' (we), making the sentence feel more natural and less stiff.
Quelle
This is the feminine form of the interrogative adjective 'quel', used here because 'date' is a feminine noun.
Aujourd'hui
This word is an adverb meaning 'today'. It is a compound of 'au' (at the), 'jour' (day), and 'd'hui' (an archaic word for today).
🗨In Conversation
On est quelle date aujourd'hui ?
What's the date today?
On est le 12 octobre.
It's October 12th.
✕Common Mistakes
Quel est la date aujourd'hui ?
The word 'date' is feminine, so you must use the feminine form 'quelle' instead of the masculine 'quel'.
On est quel date aujourd'hui ?
Even in informal speech, the interrogative adjective must agree in gender with 'date'.
↔Alternatives
Quelle est la date aujourd'hui ?
What is today's date? (More formal)
On est le combien ?
What's the [day number]? (Very common/informal)
C'est quel jour ?
What day is it?
Cultural Tip
In France, dates are always expressed in the Day-Month-Year format. When answering this question, the response usually begins with 'On est le...' followed by the number. Note that for the first day of the month, French speakers say 'le premier' rather than 'le un'.