Primer VS Primero

Question

When saying it is the first of Septiembre, would you use primer or primero? I'm not sure if there is a difference/what the difference is. Thanks!

Answer 1

I believe that should be primero.

I also believe it is, at least as taught in formal classes, the only time they use an ordinal number for the date, as we do in English. We say "the first of", "the second of", "the third of" etc etc. They say, "el primero de septiembre", but not normally "el segundo..."

hth

Roger

Thanks!!! I'm taking an online Spanish course and it said that primer was an option. I didn't think so. Thanks for your help!!!! - MKBwasHere, Oct 22, 2013

You´re welcome. I¨ve seen primer used to, but since it´s not what I was taught, I´ve avoided it until I can develop a better feel myself. - rogspax, Oct 22, 2013

You could use "primer" but spoken "el primer día". This is gramatically correct, however, it´s so wordy that it would sound unnatural - 005faa61, Oct 22, 2013

Answer 2

primero

Answer 3

After doing a search in the forum, I found this reference - reference

Basically, the shortened version is used directly before a singular masculine noun, i.e, el primer hombre.

In the case of the date, primero is used, "el primero de marzo". But it would be "el primer día de marzo".