How Do You Say Month In Spanish
Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience. If you are looking to learn Spanish, one of the first things you may want to familiarize yourself with is how to say the months in Spanish. The Spanish months are essential for your language survival kit! Luckily, the names of most months look and sound quite similar in Spanish and English, which makes them easy to remember. Let’s dive into how to say the months in Spanish and some tips to help you remember them.
Spanish Months and Their Pronunciations
Here are the names of the months in Spanish along with their English counterparts:
- January – enero
- February – febrero
- March – marzo
- April – abril
- May – mayo
- June – junio
- July – julio
- August – agosto
- September – septiembre
- October – octubre
- November – noviembre
- December – diciembre
Most of the Spanish months are similar to their English counterparts, making it easier for English speakers to remember them. The Spanish pronunciation is also quite straightforward, and once you master the Spanish alphabet sounds, you can easily pronounce the months.
Grammar of the Months in Spanish
All of the names for months are masculine, although it usually isn’t necessary to use the article “el” except when giving specific dates, and then the “el” comes before the number rather than the month. Unlike in English, the names of the months are not capitalized in Spanish (except at the beginning of a sentence or composition title).
How to Write Dates in Spanish
The most common way of giving dates in Spanish is following this pattern: “el 1 de enero de 2000.” For example: “La Declaración de Independencia de los EE.UU. fue ratificada por el Congreso Continental el 4 de julio de 1776 en Filadelfia” (The U.S. Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia). As in that example, the word “on” in an “on + date” phrase does not have to be translated to Spanish.
Abbreviating Dates
When writing dates using just numbers, Spanish typically uses Roman numerals using a date-month-year sequence. For example, September 16, 1810 (Mexico’s independence date), would be written as 16-IX-1810. Note that the sequence is similar to that used in English in Great Britain (as well as in most other European languages) but not the United States.
Origins of the Months’ Names
The names of the months all come from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. For example, “enero” comes from the Roman god Janus, the guardian of doors and gates, while “febrero” comes from a word meaning “purify,” and so on.
How to Say the Four Seasons in Spanish
After learning the months, it’s also useful to know the “estaciones del año” (seasons of the year) in Spanish. Here are the seasons in Spanish along with their English counterparts:
- Spring – Primavera
- Summer – Verano
- Autumn – Otoño
- Winter – Invierno
FAQs for Learning the Months of the Year in Spanish
Here are some frequently asked questions about learning the months of the year in Spanish:
- Are the months of the year in Spanish masculine or feminine?
The months of the year in Spanish are considered masculine nouns. - Do months get capitalized in Spanish?
Unlike English, months are not capitalized in Spanish, except at the beginning of a sentence or composition title. - How do you abbreviate months in Spanish?
Months are abbreviated using Roman numerals in academia and a date-month abbreviation in calendars and everyday correspondence. - How do I express dates in Spanish?
Dates in Spanish begin with the number, followed by “de,” and then the month. For example, “Es el 10 de enero” (It’s January 10th). - How can I master the months in Spanish?
You can practice and reinforce your learning by using Spanish calendars, listening to Spanish audio, and practicing pronunciation with native speakers.
Master the Months with Songs
Learning shouldn’t be all about monotonous repetition: you can also sing your way to success! Practice the months of the year in Spanish with some of the most recognizable songs in the Spanish-speaking world. For example, “7 de septiembre” by Mecano, “20 de enero” by La Oreja de Van Gogh, and “Quién me ha robado el mes de abril” by Joaquín Sabina are great songs to help you remember the months in Spanish.
Learning the months in Spanish is a great way to start your journey into the language. With some practice and the right resources, you’ll be able to confidently understand and use the months in Spanish in no time!