my $date = 'Jan 21 00:41'; my ($mon, $day, $hour, $min) = $date =~ /(\w+)\s(\d+)\s(\d+):(\d+)/; foreach($mon, $day, $hour, $min){ print "$_\n"; } #### $datehit =~ /(\w+\s\d{2}\s\d{2}\:\d{2})/;