mai
/mɛ/
mai is the French word for the fifth month of the year, May.
mai is used to refer specifically to the month of May.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'in May', use the preposition en before the month, resulting in en mai.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɛ/
Did you know?
- In traditional French folklore, the expression faire le mai refers to the act of courting or wooing someone during the spring season.
- The month of mai is central to the historical memory of France due to the events of Mai 68, a period of civil unrest and student protests that fundamentally changed French society.
- In many French-speaking cultures, the 'Fête du Travail' is celebrated on the first of mai. Unlike the US or UK, people often give specifically 'muguet' (lily of the valley) to friends and lovers on this day.
Examples in context
- Je serai en France tout le mois de mai.I will be in France the whole month of May.
- On organise une fête d'anniversaire en mai.We are organizing a birthday party in May.
- Les journées rallongent en mai.The days get longer in May.
- Le mois de mai est très beau.The month of May is very beautiful.
- Mon anniversaire est en mai.My birthday is in May.
- Nous partons en vacances en mai.We are going on vacation in May.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are planning a trip.
- LucasQuand veux-tu partir en voyage ?When do you want to go on a trip?
- ManonJe préfère partir en mai, Lucas.I prefer to leave in May, Lucas.
- LucasC'est une excellente idée.That is an excellent idea.
- ManonOn réserve les billets demain ?Shall we book the tickets tomorrow?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry mai, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
