French

Months of the year in French with Pronunciation and Examples

months of the year in french

Ready to talk about your birthday, plan events, or simply describe the time of year in French? Learning the months of the year in French (les mois de l’année) is fundamental vocabulary that helps you navigate daily conversations and understand French culture. Just like the days of the week, these words are crucial for situating yourself in time.

While seemingly simple, there are a few key French grammar rules and pronunciation tips to follow for fluent communication. Let’s dive in!

See also: Days of the week in French

The Months of the Year in French

Here’s a comprehensive list of the months, along with a simplified pronunciation guide and common examples.

French MonthEnglish EquivalentSimplified Pronunciation
JanvierJanuaryjahn-vee-AY
FévrierFebruaryfay-vree-AY
MarsMarchmahrs
AvrilAprilah-vreel
MaiMaymay
JuinJunejwen (like “gwen” but with a nasal ‘en’ sound)
JuilletJulyjwee-YAY
AoûtAugustoot (silent ‘g’) or ah-oot (depending on region)
SeptembreSeptembersep-TAHM-bruh
OctobreOctoberok-TO-bruh
NovembreNovemberno-VAHM-bruh
DécembreDecemberday-SAHM-bruh

Essential Grammar Rules for French Months

Understanding these rules is key to using months correctly in sentences and avoiding common mistakes. 

 

1. No Capitalization for Months

Unlike in English, months of the year in French are not capitalized. This is a common pitfall for English speakers!

  • Noël est en décembre. (Christmas is in December.)
    • And not: Noël est en Decembre.

2. Saying “It’s [Month]”: Using “C’est”

To simply state what month it is, use the impersonal expression c’est (it is) followed directly by the month.

    • C’est juillet. (It’s July.)
    • C’est avril. (It’s April.)

3. Referring to Events in a Month: Using “En“

When indicating that an event occurs or will occur in a certain month, use the preposition en (in) before the month. This little word is versatile in French! You can learn more about the preposition “en” in detail.

    • Mon anniversaire est en juin. (My birthday is in June.)
    • L’hiver est en décembre. (Winter is in December.)
    • Stefano est arrivé en août. (Stefano came in August.)

4. Referring to Specific Dates: Using “Le”

When you refer to a specific date (a particular day within a month), you must use the definite article le (the) before the number of the day, not “en.”

  • Mes amies viennent le 20 juin. (My friends are coming on June 20th.)
  • Mon anniversaire est le 10 août. (My birthday is on August 10th.)

For a deeper dive into how French articles like “le” work, check out this guide on French definite articles.

Common Words and Expressions Related to Time

Expand your time-related vocabulary with these frequently used French words:

French (Gender)English Equivalent
Mois (m)Month
Année (f)Year
Semestre (m)Semester
Siècle (m)Century
Millénaire (m)Millennium
Décennie (f)Decade
Année bissextile (f)Leap year
Practice Sentences: Examples

Let’s see the months and related vocabulary in action!

  • Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire ? – What is the date of your birthday?
  • Mon anniversaire est en mai. – My birthday is in May.
  • Une décennie a passé. – A decade has passed.
  • J’adore août. – I love August.
  • Tu n’es pas venu depuis un siècle ! – You haven’t come in a century!
  • Le printemps est en mars. – Spring is in March.

Exercises

Test what you’ve learned with these simple exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank

Complete the sentence with the correct month in French, remembering the lowercase rule.

  1. My birthday is in __________ (May).
  2. Christmas is in __________ (December).
  3. I love the month of __________ (August).
  4. School begins in __________ (September).

Exercise 2: Translate to French

Translate the following sentences into French.

  1. My birthday is on July 12th.
  2. Winter is in January.
  3. The party is on May 20th.
  4. My brother arrives in April.

Answers

Exercise 1

  1. mai
  2. décembre
  3. août
  4. septembre

Exercise 2

  1. Mon anniversaire est le 12 juillet.
  2. L’hiver est en janvier.
  3. La fête est le 20 mai.
  4. Mon frère arrive en avril.
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