As you learn basic French words, you’ll realize that months in French are useful to have in your vocabulary. The French word for each month (un mois) is based on the Latin used in the Roman calendar, similar to English.
In French, the months (les mois) are not capitalized; this goes for the days in French, as well as the seasons. Also of note, France celebrates 8 seasons, vs. the standard 4 in the rest of the world. Kidding.
| janvier | January | Bonne année ! (Happy new year!) can be heard throughout the month of January in France, it is acceptable to continue to extend your good wishes to anyone you have not seen since the previous year. |
| février | February | It’s ski season! The mountainous regions of France make skiing holidays very popular during this first break following Christmas. Also the month of le jour de la Saint-Valentin (Valentine’s Day) – where better to spend it than the home of the language of love? |
| mars | March | Easter (Pâques) usually occurs in the month of March, another occasion for spending time with family and of course, eating treats from master chocolatiers. |
| avril | Avril | The French say ‘En avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil’ (literally meaning: ‘In April, don’t remove a thread (of your clothing)’) to describe the unpredictable weather. Because of this, escaping to the warmer climate of the South is the norm. |
| mai | May | With three public holidays, May is a perfect month for taking time off in France. The workplace is often empty, and out-of-office replies are plentiful, so you might as well join them! |
| juin | June | June is famous for festivals, particularly la Fête de la Musique, where musicians perform in streets and squares for everyone to enjoy. There is a great sense of community and it marks the start of summer for many. |
| juillet | July | July is a big month in France, le 14 juillet (Bastille Day) is the national holiday (la Fête Nationale), celebrated with fireworks (feux d’artifices) and fireman’s parties (le Bal des Pompiers). It’s also the start of the summer holidays. People who go away in July are called juilletistes. |
| août | August | August is when France empties out for the holidays and is very quiet, particularly in Paris. Many establishments close down as the staff take a well-deserved rest. Those who take holiday in August are called aoûtiens. |
| septembre | September | C’est la rentrée ! The back-to-school (or work) period starts slowly in September, as everyone comes back from the summer holidays, readjusting to their normal routines. It is typically an important month for businesses. |
| octobre | October | October might evoke Halloween for many, though in France the holiday it’s less popular. However, for a cultural celebration, La Nuit Blanche – when museums are open all night are an October tradition. |
| novembre | November | In November, there are two public holidays: All Saints Day (1st November) and Armistice Day (11th November). The Beaujolais Nouveau, a fruity red wine originally produced to celebrate the end of the harvest, is released on the third Thursday in November. Something to look forward to as the dark nights draw in. |
| décembre | December | December means Christmas (Noël)! Christmas markets (marchés de Noël) pop up all over France, as well as temporary ice skating rinks (patinoires). At the end of the year (la fin d’année), the French celebrate le Réveillon de l’An (New Year’s Eve) amongst friends and family. |
Tips to remember the months of the year in French
A great way to remember the months in French is to change the language settings on your phone to French. This way you’ll see the date in French countless times a day and have a French calendar in the palm of your hands, including other useful words to grow your vocabulary. The months in French are very similar to English so that is a bonus.
Seasons in French
Now you know the months, it’s good to know the seasons in French:
| Le printemps | Spring |
| L’été | Summer |
| L’automne | Autumn |
| L’hiver | Winter |
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