Gaining knowledge about months in Spanish is essential for anyone looking to communicate effectively in the language. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore how to say months in Spanish in both formal and informal contexts. Furthermore, we will provide various tips and examples to enhance your understanding. While regional variations exist, we will primarily focus on the most widely used terms. So, ¡vamos! (Let’s go!)
Table of Contents
Months in Spanish
Before we delve into the plural forms, let’s review the names of the months in Spanish:
Enero – January
Febrero – February
Marzo – March
Abril – April
Mayo – May
Junio – June
Julio – July
Agosto – August
Septiembre – September
Octubre – October
Noviembre – November
Diciembre – December
Formal Plural Forms
In formal or standard Spanish, the plural forms of the months are constructed by changing the final “-o” to “-os” for masculine months and changing the final “-a” to “-as” for feminine months. Take a look at the examples below:
Examples of Masculine Singular to Plural Months:
- Enero (January) becomes Eneros (Januarys)
- Marzo (March) becomes Marzos (Marches)
Examples of Feminine Singular to Plural Months:
- Abril (April) becomes Abriles (Aprils)
- Junio (June) becomes Junios (Junes)
Remember, when using months in the plural form, it is necessary to modify any accompanying adjectives to also agree in number:
Los eneros cálidos son asombrosos. (The warm Januaries are amazing.)
Los abriles lluviosos son comunes en mi país. (Rainy Aprils are common in my country.)
Informal Plural Forms
In informal speech or colloquial expressions, native Spanish speakers might use different plural forms for months. These variations often involve adding the definite article “los” before the month name, making them look like noun phrases. Although not as formal, these expressions are commonly used:
Examples of Informal Plural Forms:
- Los eneros (The Januaries)
- Los febreros (The Februaries)
While using informal plural forms can make you sound more like a native speaker, it is worth noting that these variations may not be as widely recognized or accepted in formal or written contexts.
Common Tips and Exceptions
To deepen your understanding of months in Spanish, let’s highlight some essential tips and a few exceptions to the general rules:
1. Capitalization:
In Spanish, the names of months are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
2. Gender Agreement:
While most months have a clear gender (e.g., “enero” is masculine and “marzo” is masculine), some months like “mayo” and “agosto” are masculine but often treated as feminine in certain expressions.
El mayo es un mes muy agradable. (May is a very pleasant month.)
La gente ama el agosto en esta región. (People love August in this region.)
3. Lengthy Month Names:
Months like “septiembre” and “diciembre” are exception to the standard plural forms. Instead of modifying the -e or -re endings, the plural is formed by adding “-s” to the end:
Septiembre (September) becomes Septiembres (Septembers)
Diciembre (December) becomes Diciembres (Decembers)
4. Prepositions:
When using months in Spanish, it is important to remember that prepositions like “in” and “on” are typically omitted. Instead, the month is used alone:
Vamos a vernos en febrero. (We’ll meet in February.)
Estoy planeando un viaje para agosto. (I’m planning a trip for August.)
Conclusion
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of our in-depth guide on how to say months in Spanish, focusing on the plural forms. By understanding the formal and informal ways, as well as the common tips and exceptions, you are well-equipped to communicate effectively in various contexts. Remember to practice using these terms in real-life conversations to solidify your knowledge. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)
