Gaining knowledge of how to say months in Arabic can deepen your understanding of the language and provide you with a practical skill for everyday communication. In this guide, we will introduce you to the formal and informal ways of saying months in Arabic, offering tips, examples, and even diving into regional variations when necessary.
Table of Contents
Formal Ways to Say Months in Arabic:
Tip 1: When using Arabic to express the months formally, it is essential to recognize the standard Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) pronunciation. While regional variations exist, MSA serves as a universally understood version of Arabic.
1. January – يناير (Yanāyir)
January, the first month of the year, can be pronounced as “Yanāyir” in English. It is written in Arabic as يناير, and this spelling is recognized across Arabic-speaking countries.
2. February – فبراير (Fibrāyir)
To express February, the shortest month of the year, you would use the term “Fibrāyir” in Arabic. The written form remains consistent across different regions, and it is spelled as فبراير in Arabic script.
3. March – مارس (Mārs)
March, the month synonymous with spring, is pronounced as “Mārs” in Arabic. Its written form, مارس, is universally recognized, facilitating communication across regional variations.
4. April – أبريل (Abrrīl)
The month of April can be conveyed in Arabic as “Abrrīl.” Just like the previous months, its written form أبريل is understood commonly and requires no specific regional adaptations.
5. May – مايو (Māyū)
To express May in Arabic, you would use the term “Māyū.” It is important to note that the pronunciation in Arabic follows the phonetic sound rather than an exact pronunciation of the English word. The written form in Arabic appears as مايو.
6. June – يونيو (Yūnyū)
June, often associated with summer, is pronounced as “Yūnyū” in Arabic. Note that the “j” sound in June is written as “y” in Arabic, and it is represented as يونيو in the written form.
7. July – يوليو (Yūlyū)
July, marking the middle of summer, can be said as “Yūlyū” in Arabic. Similar to June, the “j” sound is replaced with the letter “y.” When written in Arabic script, it appears as يوليو.
8. August – أغسطس (Agustus)
The month of August in Arabic is referred to as “Agustus.” Be mindful that the pronunciation of “August” in Arabic heavily deviates from the English form. In Arabic script, it is spelled as أغسطس.
9. September – سبتمبر (Sabtambir)
To express September in Arabic, you would say “Sabtambir.” Once again, remember that the pronunciation differs from English. In Arabic script, it is written as سبتمبر.
10. October – أكتوبر (Oktōbar)
October, the gateway to autumn, can be pronounced as “Oktōbar” in Arabic. The letter “c” in the English form is replaced by the letter “k” in Arabic, which makes it أكتوبر in written form.
11. November – نوفمبر (Nūfambir)
The month of November is defined as “Nūfambir” in Arabic. Within Arabic script, it is spelled as نوفمبر. Note that the “v” sound becomes “f” in Arabic pronunciation.
12. December – ديسمبر (Disambir)
December, the final month of the year, can be conveyed in Arabic as “Disambir.” Its written form remains consistent across different regions, written as ديسمبر in Arabic script.
Informal Ways to Say Months in Arabic:
Tip 2: Informal ways of expressing months in Arabic usually involve colloquial regional dialects. Though these may differ from region to region, we will touch upon some common informal variations.
Egyptian Variation:
While Modern Standard Arabic is understood in Egypt, Egyptians often use their own dialect when expressing the months. Here are some variations:
- January – يناير (Yanāyir)
- February – فبراير (Fibrāyir)
- March – مارس (Mārs)
- April – أبريل (Abrrīl)
- May – مايو (Māyū)
- June – يونيو (Yūnyū)
- July – يوليو (Yūlyū)
- August – أغسطس (Agustus)
- September – سبتمبر (Sabtambir)
- October – أكتوبر (Aktūbar)
- November – نوفمبر (Nūfambir)
- December – ديسمبر (Desambir)
It’s important to note that while the pronunciation may differ slightly in Egyptian dialect, the written form of the months remains the same as in MSA.
Conclusion:
This guide has provided you with the necessary knowledge to express the months in Arabic, both formally and informally. By understanding the differences and similarities between Modern Standard Arabic and regional dialects, you’ll be able to navigate conversations effectively.
Remember that while Modern Standard Arabic provides a universal approach, it’s crucial to be aware of regional variations if your interactions specifically involve certain countries or dialects.
Practice saying the months aloud repeatedly, paying attention to both pronunciation and spelling. The more you engage with Arabic, the greater your fluency will become.
Enjoy the journey of learning Arabic and embrace the rich culture that accompanies it. Wishing you success as you expand your horizons through language!
