"Fecha de nacimiento" directly translates from Spanish to English as "date of birth." This common phrase is used to inquire about or state the specific day, month, and year an individual was born.
Understanding "Fecha de Nacimiento"
This phrase is fundamental in personal identification and is frequently encountered in official documents, forms, and everyday conversations where age or birth records are relevant. It's the standard way to ask for or provide someone's birthdate in Spanish-speaking contexts.
Breakdown of the Phrase
To fully grasp its meaning, it's helpful to break down each component of "fecha de nacimiento":
Spanish Word | English Translation | Contextual Meaning |
---|---|---|
Fecha | Date | Refers to a specific calendar day, month, and year. |
De | Of | A preposition indicating possession or relation, similar to "of" or "from" in English. |
Nacimiento | Birth | The act or fact of being born. |
When combined, "fecha de nacimiento" literally means "date of birth," clearly indicating the day on which someone was born. The plural form, if referring to multiple individuals' birthdates, would be "fechas de nacimiento."
Where You Might Encounter It
You will frequently see or hear "fecha de nacimiento" in various situations, including:
- Official Forms: Applications for passports, visas, driver's licenses, or school enrollment.
- Medical Records: Patient registration forms at clinics or hospitals.
- Job Applications: Sections requesting personal information.
- Online Registrations: When creating accounts for websites or services.
- Personal Identification: Often printed on identification cards or government documents.
- Everyday Conversations: When someone asks about your age or personal details.
Providing Your Date of Birth in Spanish
When asked for your "fecha de nacimiento," you typically respond by stating the day, month, and year. The common format in Spanish is day/month/year.
- Example: If your date of birth is January 15, 1990, you would say:
- "Mi fecha de nacimiento es el quince de enero de mil novecientos noventa." (My date of birth is January fifteenth, nineteen ninety.)
- Alternatively, you might write it as 15/01/1990.
Why Is This Information Important?
The date of birth is a crucial piece of personal information used for a wide array of purposes, including:
- Age Verification: To confirm if an individual meets specific age requirements (e.g., for voting, purchasing alcohol, or legal contracts).
- Identity Confirmation: As a key identifier to distinguish one person from another.
- Record Keeping: Essential for administrative, legal, and historical records.
- Statistical Analysis: Used in demographics and population studies.
Understanding "fecha de nacimiento" is therefore essential for anyone interacting with Spanish language documents or speakers, particularly in administrative or personal identification contexts. For further exploration of Spanish vocabulary, a reputable online dictionary can provide additional context and usage examples.