Oktober
/ɔkˈtoːbɐ/masculine
The German word for October is Oktober. Wiktionary also lists Gilbhart.
Meaning: tenth month of the Gregorian calendar (name)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oktober | /ɔkˈtoːbɐ/ | masculine |
| Gilbhart | /ˈɡɪlphaʁt/ | masculine |
Oktober refers to the tenth month of the Gregorian calendar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Bavarian dialect, the term might be pronounced as Oktoba.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive form, meaning 'of October', is des Oktobers.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɔkˈtoːbɐ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to capitalize the 'O' in Oktober, but all nouns in German, including months, must be capitalized.
Did you know?
- While the world knows the 'Oktoberfest' as an October festival, the event actually begins in September to take advantage of the warmer weather.
- In parts of Bavaria, you might hear the month called Gilbhart. This term is rooted in local dialect rather than the standard German used in textbooks.
- The word Oktober is a linguistic survivor of a counting mistake. While it means 'eighth' in its original Latin, it has occupied the tenth slot in the German calendar for centuries.
Examples in context
- Es ist fast Oktober.It's almost October.Tatoeba #5469479 by hjoest, translation #5469229 by CK
- Ich komme im Oktober.I'm coming in October.Tatoeba #7419585 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7418677 by CK
- Ist es schon Oktober?Is it October already?Tatoeba #9036108 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7418673 by CK
- Ich liebe den goldenen Herbst im Oktober.I love the golden autumn in October.
- Oktober bringt die Erntezeit und den Beginn des bunten Laubfalls mit sich.October brings the harvest season and the beginning of colorful leaf fall.
- 428 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are discussing their travel plans.
- LukasFliegen wir im Oktober nach Berlin?Are we flying to Berlin in October?
- LauraNein, wir fliegen schon im September.No, we are flying in September already.
- LukasDas ist viel früher als im Oktober.That is much earlier than in October.
- LauraJa, der Oktober ist uns zu kalt.Yes, October is too cold for us.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “october” translations and entries Oktober, Gilbhart, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Gilbhart, Oktober, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
