Need to learn the Spanish months quickly and correctly?
Although memorizing enero to diciembre won't take long, properly using the 12 months of the year in sentences and conversations will have you speaking like a native speaker.
One tricky part of Spanish grammar is that months are never capitalized (unless beginning a sentence). They also don't use "the" before the month's name. It's simply "mes de enero" not "the month of January" - but more on using the days and months correctly later.
As a native Spanish speaker, I'll walk you through the 12 months in Spanish, from pronunciation to usage. I'll cover the months and their relation to seasons and dates, how to say them correctly in the flow of Spanish speech, and will provide you with sentences you can use right away. With this guide for English speakers, you'll be well on your way to fluency in no time.
The months of the year in Spanish are:
These names, with their Latin origins, offer a blend of familiarity and distinctiveness to students of Spanish and English.
Pronunciation: /e-'ne-ro/
Enero comes from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. So it makes sense that January is seen as the month of fresh starts and New Year's resolutions - in the Spanish-speaking parts of the world and beyond.
Examples:
1. En enero, siempre hago una lista de propósitos para el año nuevo.
2. Mi cumpleaños es el 20 de enero.
3. ¿Suele nevar en enero en tu ciudad?
Pronunciation: /fe-'bre-ro/
Febrero may be short, but learning how native Spanish speakers use this month is an important step in becoming fluent.
Examples:
1. Febrero es el mes más corto del año.
2. El 14 de febrero celebramos el Día de San Valentín.
3. En febrero, a veces tenemos un día extra por ser año bisiesto.
Pronunciation: /'mar-so/
Marzo marks the beginning of spring (la primavera) in Spanish just as in English. Its name comes from the Roman god Mars, linked to the idea of spring renewing nature after winter.
Examples:
1. La primavera comienza en marzo.
2. Mi familia visita los parques nacionales en marzo.
3. En marzo, las flores empiezan a florecer.
Pronunciation: /a-'bril/
Abril marks the continued transition into spring in Spanish, just as April does in English.
Examples:
1. Abril es conocido por sus lluvias primaverales.
2. El Día de la Tierra se celebra el 22 de abril.
3. Me gusta ir de picnic en abril cuando las flores están en su máximo esplendor.
Pronunciation: /'ma-jo/
Mayo is celebrated for bringing the full bloom of spring, and in many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is a month of festivals and celebrations, such as Mother's Day and Labor Day.
Examples:
1. En mayo celebramos el Día de la Madre.
2. Mayo es el mes perfecto para empezar a plantar un jardín.
3. Muchas escuelas terminan su año académico en mayo.
Pronunciation:/'xu-njo/
Junio signals the start of summer in the northern hemisphere, with longer days and warmer weather, making it ideal for outdoor activities - and Spanish speakers from Colombia to Spain sure love those.
Examples:
1. El solsticio de verano ocurre en junio.
2. Nos vamos de vacaciones a la playa en junio.
3. Junio es un mes popular para las bodas al aire libre.
Pronunciation: /'xu-lio/
Julio marks the peak of summer in the Spanish-speaking world, associated with vacations (las vacaciones) and major cultural festivals like the Fiestas Patrias in Peru.
Examples:
1. Muchas familias viajan durante julio para aprovechar las vacaciones de verano.
2. El 4 de julio se celebra el Día de la Independencia en Estados Unidos.
3. Julio es un buen mes para aprender a nadar.
Pronunciation: /a-'ɡos-to/
Agosto continues the warmth of summer and is often filled with cultural festivals, late-summer vacations, and the preparation for the upcoming school year in many regions.
Examples:
1. En agosto, el clima es perfecto para acampar en las montañas.
2. La feria anual de nuestro pueblo se realiza en agosto.
3. Agosto es el último mes de verano antes de que empiece el otoño.
Pronunciation: /sep-'tjem-bɾe/
Septiembre signals the start of fall in Spanish, just as September does in English. It brings cooler weather across the Spanish-speaking world along with the return to school (el regreso a clases).
Examples:
1. Los niños vuelven a la escuela en septiembre.
2. Septiembre es ideal para disfrutar de los colores otoñales.
3. El equinoccio de otoño suele ocurrir en septiembre.
Pronunciation: /ok-'tu-βɾe/
Octubre is often synonymous with the fall season, featuring cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and significant events like Halloween in many cultures.
Examples:
1. Las hojas cambian de color en octubre.
2. Celebramos Halloween el 31 de octubre.
3. Octubre es un mes popular para las cosechas de otoño.
Pronunciation: /no-'βjem-bɾe/
Noviembre brings the late fall atmosphere with cooler days leading up to winter, and it's a time for giving thanks in cultures that celebrate Thanksgiving.
Examples:
1. En noviembre, empezamos a sentir el frío del invierno.
2. El Día de Acción de Gracias se celebra en noviembre en Estados Unidos.
3. Noviembre es un buen momento para disfrutar de bebidas calientes.
Pronunciation: /di-'θjem-bɾe/
Diciembre marks the end of the year across the Spanish-speaking world, packed with major holidays like Christmas (la Navidad) and New Year's (Año Nuevo).
Examples:
1. Diciembre está lleno de festividades y tradiciones familiares.
2. La Navidad se celebra el 25 de diciembre.
3. Mucha gente hace propósitos para el nuevo año en diciembre.
Unlike in English, the names of the months are not capitalized in Spanish unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a proper noun. For example, "enero" (January), "febrero" (February), etc.
When talking about dates and months in Spanish, the preposition "de" (of) is often used to connect the day and the month. For example, "el 4 de julio" (the 4th of July). However, when expressing something that happens in a certain month, the preposition "en" (in) is used, as in "en agosto" (in August).
In Spanish, the definite article (el, la, los, las) is generally not used before the name of a month when stating dates or referring to the month in general. For example, one would say "Julio es caluroso" (July is hot) rather than "El julio es caluroso."
The general format for writing dates in Spanish is:
Day + de + Month + de + Year
1. Days and Years: Both days and years are written as numerals, just like in English.
2. Months: The names of the months are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.
3. Prepositions: The word "de" (meaning "of") is used between the day, month, and year.
4. Articles: Unlike English, Spanish dates do not usually include articles before the day, except in some regional variations where "el" might precede the day.
Examples:
2 de enero de 2021
15 de marzo de 2018
23 de julio de 2020
In this article, you've learned the names and pronunciation for each month, along with grammatical details like lowercasing, prepositions, and date formatting unique to Spanish. We explored practical examples that integrate months into conversations—discussing "abril's" spring blossoms or planning a summer "julio" trip.
Mastering this topic allows you to engage more authentically with the Spanish-speaking world. Hopefully, you can now understand cultural timelines better and use the language more confidently.
Why are the months in Spanish not capitalized?
Unlike in English, Spanish does not capitalize the months of the year unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence or are part of a proper noun. This rule is part of Spanish grammar, which generally uses fewer capitalizations compared to English.
How do I say "in [month]" in Spanish?
To say "in [month]" in Spanish, you use "en" followed by the month. For example, "in January" is "en enero," "in February" is "en febrero," and so on. This structure applies to all months when talking about something occurring within that month.
Are there any special celebrations or holidays associated with specific months in Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, many Spanish-speaking countries have special celebrations and holidays associated with specific months. For example, "mayo" (May) often includes "el Día del Trabajo" (Labor Day) on May 1st and "el Día de la Madre" (Mother's Day) in some countries. "Septiembre" (September) is known for "el Día de la Independencia" (Independence Day) in several countries, including Mexico (September 16th) and Chile (September 18th).
How do I write dates in Spanish, including the day, month, and year?
Dates in Spanish are written in the format of day + de + month + de + year. For example, July 4, 2021, would be written as "4 de julio de 2021." The day and year are numerical, while the month is written out, and "de" is used as a separator.
Can I use abbreviations for the months in Spanish like in English?
Yes, you can use abbreviations for the months in Spanish, especially in informal contexts or notes. Common abbreviations include the first three letters of each month, such as "ene." for "enero," "feb." for "febrero," "mar." for "marzo," and so on. However, these abbreviations are not as commonly used in formal writing.
