Learning how to say the months of the year in a foreign language is an essential step towards mastering it. If you’re looking to expand your French vocabulary, you’ve come to the right place! In this guide, we’ll show you how to say January to December in French, providing both formal and informal ways of expressing the months. While regional variations exist, we’ll focus on the standard French pronunciation. So, let’s dive right in and start with the first month of the year!
Table of Contents
January: Janvier
January is known as “Janvier” in French. It is pronounced as “jan-vee-yay.” Note that the “r” at the end is not pronounced, but it still affects the way you say the preceding vowel.
February: Février
The second month of the year, February, is called “Février” in French. To pronounce it correctly, say “fay-vree-yay.” The accent on the “é” indicates that you should emphasize that syllable slightly.
March: Mars
“March” is translated to French as “Mars.” Its pronunciation is similar to the English word, but with a silent “s.” Say “mar” without pronouncing the final “s.”
April: Avril
April is represented by the word “Avril” in French. Pronounce it as “ah-vreel.” The “r” at the end is again silent, influencing the previous vowel sound.
May: Mai
“May,” the lovely spring month, is simply “Mai” in French. Pronounce it as a single syllable, sounding like the English word “may.”
June: Juin
“June” is translated as “Juin” in French. Pronounce it as “zhwan.” The “j” is pronounced like the “s” in “measure” or the “g” in “genre.”
July: Juillet
July is called “Juillet” in French. Pronounce it as “zhwee-yay.” The “t” at the end is silent, so don’t pronounce it.
August: Août
“August” is translated to French as “Août.” To say it correctly, pronounce it as “oot.” The “^” symbol, called a circumflex, indicates a change in vowel quality.
September: Septembre
Next in line is “September,” which is “Septembre” in French. Pronounce it as “sept-ahmbr.” The “e” at the end is not silent but should not be stressed either.
October: Octobre
“October” in French is “Octobre.” To pronounce it, say “ok-tobr.” The ending “e” in this case remains silent.
November: Novembre
November is represented by “Novembre” in French. Pronounce it as “no-vahmbr.” Similar to “September” and “October,” the final “e” is not pronounced.
December: Décembre
The last month of the year is “December,” or “Décembre” in French. To pronounce it, say “days-ahmbr.” The accent on the “é” indicates emphasis on that syllable.
Formal and Informal Usage
When it comes to formal and informal usage of the months in French, there isn’t a significant difference. However, it’s important to note the verb forms that accompany the months in certain contexts. For example, if you want to say “I was born in July” in French, you would say “Je suis né(e) en juillet.” Here, “je suis né(e)” is the formal way of saying “I was born,” and “en juillet” means “in July.” In an informal setting, you could simply say “Je suis né(e) en juillet” without any significant changes.
Tips and Examples
Tips:
- Practice pronunciation by listening to native French speakers or using online pronunciation resources.
- Pay attention to liaisons and silent letters, as they can affect the way the months are spoken.
- Immerse yourself in French culture and language to enhance your learning experience.
Examples:
“Mon anniversaire est en avril.” (My birthday is in April.)
“Nous partons en vacances en août.” (We go on vacation in August.)
“La rentrée scolaire est en septembre.” (The school year starts in September.)
By incorporating these tips into your learning routine and using the provided examples, you’ll be able to confidently express the months of the year in French. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Now that you have learned how to say January to December in French, it’s time to put your knowledge into action. Whether you’re planning a trip to a French-speaking country or simply want to impress your French-speaking friends, mastering the months of the year is a small yet significant step towards fluency. Bonne chance (good luck)!
