Italian Phrase
Oggi è l'11 settembre.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to state the current date in Italian. It combines the word for today, the third-person singular of the verb to be, and the specific date. In Italian, dates are expressed using cardinal numbers rather than ordinal numbers, with the exception of the first of the month.
When to use
Use this phrase in daily conversation when someone asks for the date or when you are documenting an event. It is suitable for both formal documents and casual chats.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Oggièl'11settembre
Oggi
The Italian word for 'today', which functions as the subject in this sentence structure.
L' (Article)
The definite article 'il' becomes 'l' before 'undici' (11) because it starts with a vowel sound.
Cardinal Numbers
Italian uses cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3...) for dates, unlike English which uses ordinals (1st, 2nd, 3rd...).
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, che giorno è oggi?
Excuse me, what day is today?
Oggi è l'11 settembre.
Today is September 11th.
✕Common Mistakes
Oggi è 11 settembre.
In Italian, you must include the definite article before the number when stating the date.
Oggi sono l'11 settembre.
Even though the number 11 is plural, the verb must be singular 'è' to agree with the concept of 'today' or the singular date.
↔Alternatives
Oggi ne abbiamo undici.
Today we have eleven (colloquial).
È l'undici settembre.
It is September 11th.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, dates are always written in the Day-Month-Year format (11/09/2023). While September 11th is recognized globally for historical events, in Italy, this period usually marks the 'Rientro', the time when everyone returns to work and school after the summer holidays.