In French, the months of the year are known as “les mois de l’année.” There are twelve months in a year, and each month has a unique name in the French language. The names of months in French are very similar to the names of months in English, as both languages have borrowed from the same Latin and Greek roots.

Months in French

The names of months in French are derived from Latin and Greek roots and have religious and historical connotations. While some of the names are similar to their English counterparts, they are pronounced and spelled differently. Despite these differences, the names of months in French and English are essential for communication and understanding across cultures and languages.

Here are the names of the twelve months in French, with their pronunciation guide:

Month	Month Name in French	Pronunciation
January	janvier	zhahn-vee-ay
February	février	feh-vree-ay
March	mars	mahr
April	avril	ah-vreel
May	mai	may
June	juin	zhwehn
July	juillet	zhwee-ay
August	août	ah-oot
September	septembre	sep-tahm-bruh
October	octobre	ok-toh-bruh
November	novembre	noh-vahm-bruh
December	décembre	day-sahm-bruh

The names of the months in French are spelled and pronounced differently from their English counterparts. For example, January in French is spelled “janvier” and pronounced “zhahn-vee-ay,” while in English, it is pronounced “jan-yoo-ary.”

One interesting thing about the names of months in French are that they are not capitalized, unlike in English. This is because in French, months are considered common nouns and not proper nouns.

The origin of the names of the months in French can be traced back to the Roman calendar, which had ten months in a year. The names of the first four months, Janvier, Février, Mars, and Avril, come from the Latin language, which was the language spoken by the Romans.

The names of the last eight months of the year were added later when the Roman calendar was reformed to include twelve months. The names of these months were mostly derived from Latin and Greek roots. For example, Mai comes from the Latin word “maius,” which means “of Maia,” the Roman goddess of fertility.

Another interesting aspect of the names of months in French are that some of them have religious connotations. For instance, Juillet (July) is named after Julius Caesar, the Roman Emperor who was born in July. Août (August) is named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor and Julius Caesar’s successor. Septembre (September), Octobre (October), Novembre (November), and Décembre (December) were named according to their position in the year, with “Sept” meaning “seven,” “Octo” meaning “eight,” “Novem” meaning “nine,” and “Decem” meaning “ten” in Latin.

Months of the Year in French

Here’s an overview of each month of the year in French, including some interesting facts, holidays, and events associated with them.

• Janvier (January): Janvier is the first month of the year in French, and like in English, it is associated with new beginnings. It is named after the Roman god Janus, who had two faces, one looking to the past and one looking to the future. In France, January is the month of the “soldes,” a nationwide sale period that lasts for several weeks, during which retailers offer significant discounts on their merchandise. January 6th is also celebrated as “La Fête des Rois,” or Epiphany, which commemorates the visit of the three wise men to baby Jesus.
• Février (February): Février is the second month of the year in French, and it is the shortest month, with only 28 or 29 days. It is named after the Latin word “februum,” which means purification, as it was a time for purification rituals in ancient Rome. In France, February is the month of “La Chandeleur,” or Candlemas, which is celebrated on February 2nd. This holiday marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, and it is traditional to eat crêpes on this day.
• Mars (March): Mars is the third month of the year in French, and it is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. In France, March 8th is celebrated as International Women’s Day, or “La Journée internationale des femmes,” which is a day to celebrate women’s achievements and call for gender equality. March 21st is also celebrated as the first day of spring, or “le printemps,” and it is traditional to give “muguets,” or lily-of-the-valley flowers, to friends and loved ones.
• Avril (April): Avril is the fourth month of the year in French, and it is named after the Latin word “aprilis,” which means “to open,” as it is a time when flowers and trees begin to bloom. In France, April 1st is celebrated as “Le Poisson d’Avril,” or April Fool’s Day, when people play pranks on each other. April 22nd is also celebrated as “La Journée de la Terre,” or Earth Day, which is a day to promote environmental awareness and action.
• Mai (May): Mai is the fifth month of the year in French, and it is named after the Roman goddess Maia, who was associated with growth and fertility. In France, May 1st is celebrated as “La Fête du Travail,” or Labor Day, which is a public holiday to honor workers. May 8th is also celebrated as “La Fête de la Victoire,” or Victory Day, which commemorates the end of World War II in Europe.
• Juin (June): Juin is the sixth month of the year in French, and it is named after the Roman goddess Juno, who was the queen of the gods and the protector of marriage and women. In France, June 21st is celebrated as “La Fête de la Musique,” or Music Day, which is a day to celebrate music and musicians. It is traditional for musicians to play in the streets and for people to gather to listen and dance.
• June (Juin): June is the first month of summer in France, and it’s a very busy time for tourists and locals alike. The weather is warm and sunny, and people take advantage of this by spending time outdoors. Many festivals and events take place in June, including the Fête de la Musique, which is a celebration of music that takes place on June 21st. This day also marks the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. In June, school is coming to an end, and students and teachers are getting ready for their summer break.
• July (Juillet): July is the month of the French national holiday, Bastille Day, which is celebrated on July 14th. This is a very important day for the French, as it marks the beginning of the French Revolution. There are usually fireworks and parades throughout the country, and people gather with family and friends to celebrate. July is also a popular month for vacations, as many French people take time off from work to enjoy the warm weather and travel.
• August (Août): August is the peak of summer in France, and it’s a popular month for vacationers. Many people head to the coast or the mountains to escape the heat, and beaches and resorts are packed with tourists. August is also a time for festivals and cultural events, such as the Avignon Festival, which is a celebration of theater and performing arts that takes place in the town of Avignon.
• September (Septembre): September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn in France. The weather begins to cool down, and the leaves on the trees start to change color. Many French people return to work or school after their summer break, and the pace of life starts to pick up again. September is also the time for grape harvests and wine festivals in many regions of France.
• October (Octobre): October is a beautiful time of year in France, as the autumn foliage reaches its peak. The weather is cool and crisp, and it’s a great time to go hiking or enjoy outdoor activities. October is also a time for harvest festivals, such as the Fête de la Châtaigne, which celebrates the chestnut harvest in the Ardèche region.
• November (Novembre): November is a somber month in France, as it marks the anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11th. This day is a national holiday in France, and there are usually ceremonies and parades to honor the fallen soldiers. November is also a time for feasting and celebration, as the French celebrate the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, a young wine that is released on the third Thursday of the month.
• December (Décembre): December is a festive month in France, as Christmas and New Year’s Eve are both celebrated. Many towns and cities have Christmas markets, where vendors sell handmade crafts and traditional foods. French families gather on Christmas Eve to enjoy a festive meal and exchange gifts. On New Year’s Eve, there are usually fireworks and parties to ring in the new year. December is also a time for skiing and winter sports in the French Alps.

Example – Month Name in French

An example sentence of an event or activity that takes place in each French month from January to December.

• January (Janvier): En janvier, les Français célèbrent l’Épiphanie avec une galette des rois. (In January, the French celebrate Epiphany with a king cake.)
• February (Février): En février, les amoureux fêtent la Saint-Valentin avec des cadeaux et des dîners romantiques. (In February, lovers celebrate Valentine’s Day with gifts and romantic dinners.)
• March (Mars): En mars, le Carnaval de Nice est une célébration colorée avec des défilés et des costumes extravagants. (In March, the Nice Carnival is a colorful celebration with parades and extravagant costumes.)
• April (Avril): En avril, les Français célèbrent Pâques avec des chocolats et des chasses aux œufs. (In April, the French celebrate Easter with chocolates and egg hunts.)
• May (Mai): En mai, la Fête du Travail est un jour férié important pour les travailleurs français. (In May, Labor Day is an important holiday for French workers.)
• June (Juin): En juin, la Fête de la Musique célèbre la musique dans les rues de la France. (In June, the Fête de la Musique celebrates music in the streets of France.)
• July (Juillet): En juillet, le 14 juillet marque la Fête Nationale française avec des défilés et des feux d’artifice. (In July, July 14th marks the French National Day with parades and fireworks.)
• August (Août): En août, de nombreux Français prennent des vacances à la plage ou à la montagne pour échapper à la chaleur. (In August, many French people take vacations to the beach or mountains to escape the heat.)
• September (Septembre): En septembre, la récolte du raisin commence pour le vin français, et de nombreux festivals de vin ont lieu. (In September, grape harvesting begins for French wine, and many wine festivals take place.)
• October (Octobre): En octobre, la Fête d’Halloween devient de plus en plus populaire en France avec des décorations et des soirées costumées. (In October, Halloween becomes increasingly popular in France with decorations and costume parties.)
• November (Novembre): En novembre, les Français commémorent l’Armistice de la Première Guerre mondiale avec des cérémonies et des hommages aux soldats tombés. (In November, the French commemorate the Armistice of World War I with ceremonies and tributes to fallen soldiers.)
• December (Décembre): En décembre, Noël est une période de festivités avec des marchés de Noël, des décorations et des repas en famille. (In December, Christmas is a time of festivities with Christmas markets, decorations, and family meals.)

FAQ

What are the 12 months in French?

The 12 months in French are: janvier (January), février (February), mars (March), avril (April), mai (May), juin (June), juillet (July), août (August), septembre (September), octobre (October), novembre (November), décembre (December). These names are derived from the Latin language, which was the language of the Roman Empire and was widely spoken in Europe until the Middle Ages.

How do you say the months in French?

To say the months in French, you simply use the names listed above. For example, “January” is “janvier” in French, “February” is “février”, “March” is “mars”, and so on. These names are pronounced differently from the English names, so it’s important to listen to native French speakers or use a pronunciation guide to ensure you’re saying them correctly.

To say the months in French, you simply use the names listed below:

1. January – janvier
2. February – février
3. March – mars
4. April – avril
5. May – mai
6. June – juin
7. July – juillet
8. August – août
9. September – septembre
10. October – octobre
11. November – novembre
12. December – décembre

These names are pronounced differently from the English names, so it’s important to listen to native French speakers or use a pronunciation guide to ensure you’re saying them correctly. In general, French vowels are pronounced differently than in English, and French words often have accents and diacritical marks that affect pronunciation.

What month is August in French?

August is “août” in French. The circumflex accent over the “u” is used in French to indicate that a letter “s” used to follow that vowel in Old French. While the “s” is no longer pronounced, the accent remains as a reminder of the word’s etymology.

Do months have articles in French?

Yes, months in French do have articles. The article used depends on the context and the grammatical gender of the month. For example, you might say “en juillet” (in July) or “au mois de juillet” (in the month of July). “En” is used with feminine months, while “au” is used with masculine months. In general, the article is not used when referring to a month as a period of time, as in “j’aime l’automne” (I like autumn).

Do you use en or au for months?

Whether to use “en” or “au” when referring to a month in French depends on the context and whether the month is masculine or feminine. “En” is used with feminine months (e.g. en juillet), while “au” is used with masculine months (e.g. au mois de juillet). However, if you’re simply talking about a season, such as “en été” (in summer), the article “en” is always used regardless of gender.

What is month plural in French?

The plural of “mois” (month) in French is “mois”. So, for example, “three months” would be “trois mois”. Note that unlike in English, the plural form of “mois” is the same as the singular form, so context is important for understanding whether you’re talking about one month or several.

What months are feminine in French?

In French, the months of February, April, June, September, and November are feminine. The remaining months (January, March, May, July, August, October, and December) are masculine. Remembering the gender of each month can be helpful when choosing the correct article to use, and it’s also useful to know for forming other parts of speech correctly (such as adjective agreement).