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"El año" is a form of "año", a noun which is often translated as "year". "La fecha" is a form of "fecha", a noun which is often translated as "date". Learn more about the difference between "el año" and "la fecha" below.
el año()
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
2. (of school)
a. grade
Si fallo el examen, tendré que repetir el año.If I fail this test, I will have to repeat the grade.
la fecha()
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
las fechas
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
a. time of the year
Las fiestas de Navidad son fechas alegres para la mayoría.Christmas is a happy time of the year for most.