Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Date in Spanish: Fecha, Cita & Dátil
Fecha · noun (feminine) · FEH-chah
Date translates differently depending on context: fecha for a calendar date, cita for a romantic date or appointment, and dátil for the sweet fruit. Knowing which word to use is key to clear communication.
FEH-chah
¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy?
What is today's date?
Date in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for date, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| fecha | date | FEH-chah | Default, widely understood |
| cita | date | general (romantic date or appointment) | |
| dátil | date | general (the fruit) |
How Native Speakers Use Fecha
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Calendar date
La fecha límite para entregar el proyecto es el viernes.
The deadline to submit the project is Friday.
Using fecha to indicate a specific calendar date or deadline.
Romantic date
Tengo una cita esta noche con alguien especial.
I have a date tonight with someone special.
Using cita for a romantic outing.
Medical appointment
Necesito pedir una cita con el dentista.
I need to make an appointment with the dentist.
Using cita for a scheduled professional appointment.
The fruit
Los dátiles son un ingrediente popular en postres árabes.
Dates are a popular ingredient in Arab desserts.
Referring to the fruit of the date palm.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Fecha
Using fecha for a romantic date
Incorrect: Tuve una fecha muy romántica anoche.
Correct: Tuve una cita muy romántica anoche.
Fecha only means a calendar date. For a romantic outing, you must use cita. Saying fecha romántica sounds unnatural in Spanish.
Confusing dátil with fecha
Incorrect: Compré unas fechas en el mercado para hacer un postre.
Correct: Compré unos dátiles en el mercado para hacer un postre.
The date fruit is called dátil, not fecha. Fecha refers exclusively to a point in time on a calendar.
Lock in Date Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Fecha used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using fecha in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Date in Spanish
- How do you say 'What is today's date?' in Spanish?
- The standard way is ¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? or ¿Qué fecha es hoy? Both are commonly used across all Spanish-speaking countries.
- What is the difference between fecha and cita?
- Fecha refers strictly to a calendar date (day, month, year). Cita means an appointment or a romantic date — an arranged meeting between people at a specific time.
- How is the date format written in Spanish-speaking countries?
- Most Spanish-speaking countries use the day-month-year format (dd/mm/aaaa). For example, May 25, 2026 is written as 25/05/2026 or 25 de mayo de 2026.