How to Read Dates in Brazil: Day, Month, and Year in Portuguese
Brazilian numeric dates commonly put the day before the month: 10/14 in a U.S. format would not mean the same thing as 14/10 in Brazil.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Brazilian numeric dates commonly follow day/month/year order. For example, 14/10/2026 is 14 October 2026. The format differs from the month/day/year order used in the United States, so write the month as a word when clarity matters across countries.
Read the day before the month
When saying a date aloud, use the cardinal number for most days: quatorze de outubro (October 14). The first day of the month is commonly primeiro de outubro (the first of October). Add the year with de before the year: 14 de outubro de 2026.
A consulta ficou para 14 de outubro.
The appointment is set for October 14.
O evento começa no dia primeiro de maio.
The event starts on May 1.
Meu passaporte vence em 3 de fevereiro de 2027.
My passport expires on February 3, 2027.
Confirm an ambiguous date in conversation
If someone gives only numbers, confirm the month in words: você quis dizer 10 de novembro? (did you mean November 10?). This is especially useful when arranging travel, appointments, or deadlines with people who use different date conventions.
Prepositions often appear with the date: em 14 de outubro (on October 14), no dia 14 (on the 14th). Learn the whole phrase attached to the event, such as a reunião é no dia… or volto em… .
Você pode confirmar o mês por escrito?
Could you confirm the month in writing?
A entrega está prevista para o dia 22.
The delivery is scheduled for the 22nd.
Chego ao Brasil em 5 de junho.
I arrive in Brazil on June 5.
Put it into practice
Read Brazilian numeric dates day first, then month and year. Say the month as a word when there could be confusion, and use primeiro for the first day.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The appointment is set for October 14”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
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