German Phrase
Ist am 15.
Meaning
This phrase is a concise way of stating that an event occurs on the fifteenth day of the month. It omits the subject 'es' (it) which is common in casual spoken German when the context is clear. The dot after the 15 indicates it is an ordinal number (fifteenth).
When to use
Use this when answering a question about a deadline, an appointment, or a birthday where the month is already understood. It is suitable for both informal chats and quick workplace communication.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Istam15.
Verb-first (Ellipsis)
In casual German, the subject 'es' (it) is often dropped at the start of a sentence if the meaning remains clear.
The preposition 'am'
This is a contraction of 'an dem' and is the standard way to express 'on' for specific dates and days.
Ordinal Numbers
The number 15 followed by a dot is an ordinal. When preceded by 'am', it takes the dative ending '-n', pronounced 'fünfzehnten'.
🗨In Conversation
Wann ist die nächste Besprechung?
When is the next meeting?
Ist am 15.
It's on the 15th.
✕Common Mistakes
Ist am fünfzehn.
In German, dates always use ordinal numbers (fünfzehnten) rather than cardinal numbers (fünfzehn).
Ist in 15.
Use the preposition 'am' (an + dem) for specific calendar days, whereas 'in' is used for months or years.
↔Alternatives
Es ist am fünfzehnten.
It is on the fifteenth.
Das findet am 15. statt.
That takes place on the 15th.
Cultural Tip
German speakers value punctuality and precise scheduling. When writing dates in Germany, the format is always Day.Month.Year, and the period after the day is mandatory to show it is an ordinal number. In spoken German, the 'am' construction usually triggers a '-n' ending on the ordinal number.