Spanish Phrase
Es el 15.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to state the date in Spanish using the verb 'ser'. It identifies a specific day within a month by using a cardinal number. Unlike English, which uses ordinal numbers like 'fifteenth', Spanish uses regular numbers for every day of the month except the first.
When to use
Use this phrase when answering the question '¿Qué día es hoy?' or when identifying a specific deadline or event date. It is appropriate for both formal and informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Esel15
Es
The third-person singular form of 'ser', used to define or identify the date.
el
The masculine definite article required before the number when expressing a date.
15
The cardinal number 'quince'. Spanish uses regular numbers for dates instead of ordinal numbers like '15th'.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué día es hoy?
What day is today?
Es el 15.
It's the 15th.
✕Common Mistakes
Está el 15.
Use the verb 'ser' (es) rather than 'estar' when identifying the date as a fact or identity.
Es el decimoquinto.
Spanish uses cardinal numbers like 'quince' for dates, not ordinal numbers like 'decimoquinto'.
↔Alternatives
Hoy es 15.
Today is the 15th.
Estamos a 15.
It is the 15th (literally: we are at 15).
Cultural Tip
In the Spanish-speaking world, dates follow the Day-Month-Year format. While 'Es el 15' is perfectly correct, you will often hear 'Estamos a 15' in many countries. Remember that only the first of the month is usually referred to with an ordinal number, 'el primero'.