Whether you’re planning your next vacation, celebrating, or simply brushing up on your Spanish, knowing how to say the months in Spanish is essential! These words appear in everyday life more frequently than you realize, and understanding them opens the door to conversations on dates, seasons, and holidays.

In this blog post, we’ll not only answer questions like “How do you say months in Spanish?” or “What are the 12 months in Spanish?”, but we’ll also dive deeper into pronunciation tips, cultural insights, and practical usage examples.

Are you ready to learn the months in Spanish? Let’s get started!

Why Are the Months in Spanish Important?

When learning a new language, one of the first concepts covered is time. You’ll use it to ask about birthdays (¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?), make appointments, and share memories.

Spanish months are simple to learn because they are in line to English. However, memorizing a list is only one aspect of it. Pronunciation, gender agreement, and cultural variations all contribute to a helpful and pleasing experience when learning the months.

By the end of this post, you’ll be able to:

1. Confidently say and write the 12 months in Spanish.
2. Use them correctly in sentences.
3. Understand how they fit into Spanish-speaking cultures.

The 12 Months in Spanish (Los Meses del Año)

If you’re wondering, “What are the 12 months in Spanish?” here’s the complete list:

English	Spanish
January	Enero
February	Febrero
March	Marzo
April	Abril
May	Mayo
June	Junio
July	Julio
August	Agosto
September	Septiembre
October	Octubre
November	Noviembre
December	Diciembre

Key Observations:

• Most Spanish month names closely resemble their English counterparts because both languages are rooted in Latin. For example, Noviembre (November) comes from the Latin novem, meaning “nine” (as it was originally the ninth month in the Roman calendar).
• Spanish months are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. For instance: En marzo, voy a México. (In March, I’ll go to Mexico.)

Pronunciation Guide for the 12 Months in Spanish

1. Enero (January)

• Pronunciation: [eh-NEH-roh]
• Tips:
  • Emphasize the second syllable (NEH).
  • The “r” is lightly rolled.

2. Febrero (February)

• Pronunciation: [feh-BREH-roh]
• Tips:
  • Stress the second syllable (BREH).
  • The “b” in Spanish is softer than in English, almost like a blend between “b” and “v.”

3. Marzo (March)

• Pronunciation: [MAR-soh]
• Tips:
  • The “z” in most Latin American Spanish is pronounced like an “s.” In Spain, it’s pronounced with a “th” sound, like “MAR-thoh.”

4. Abril (April)

• Pronunciation: [ah-BREEL]
• Tips:
  • The “i” sounds like the “ee” in “see.”
  • Stress the second syllable (BREEL).

5. Mayo (May)

• Pronunciation: [MAH-yoh]
• Tips:
  • The “y” has a slight “j” sound, similar to the English “y” in “yes.”

6. Junio (June)

• Pronunciation: [HOO-nee-oh]
• Tips:
  • The “j” in Spanish is pronounced like a soft “h” in English.
  • Stress the first syllable (HOO).

7. Julio (July)

• Pronunciation: [HOO-lee-oh]
• Tips:
  • Similar to junio, start with the “h” sound for the “j.”
  • The “l” is pronounced as in English, without blending.

8. Agosto (August)

• Pronunciation: [ah-GOHS-toh]
• Tips:
  • Stress the second syllable (GOHS).
  • The “g” is a hard “g,” as in “go.”

9. Septiembre (September)

• Pronunciation: [sehp-TYEHM-breh]
• Tips:
  • The “i” creates a “yeh” sound.
  • Stress the second syllable (TYEHM).

10. Octubre (October)

• Pronunciation: [ohk-TOO-breh]
• Tips:
  • Stress the second syllable (TOO).
  • The “u” is pronounced as “oo” in “food.”

11. Noviembre (November)

• Pronunciation: [noh-BYEHM-breh]
• Tips:
  • The “v” is soft, similar to the “b” sound in Spanish.
  • Stress the second syllable (BYEHM).

12. Diciembre (December)

• Pronunciation: [dee-SYEHM-breh]
• Tips:
  • The “d” at the start is soft, almost like the “th” in “this.”
  • Stress the second syllable (SYEHM).

The First Four Months in Spanish (Enero, Febrero, Marzo, Abril)

The first four months in Spanish set the tone for the year and include some key cultural references.

Enero (January): Derived from the Roman god Janus, representing beginnings.

• Example: El Año Nuevo comienza en enero. (The New Year begins in January.)
• Cultural note: Many Spanish-speaking countries celebrate El Día de los Reyes (Three Kings’ Day) on January 6th.

Febrero (February): Comes from Februa, a Roman festival of purification.

• Example: El Carnaval se celebra en febrero. (Carnival is celebrated in February.)
• Cultural note: Carnival is huge in places like Brazil and Spain, with vibrant parades and celebrations.

Marzo (March): Named after Mars, the Roman god of war.

• Example: La primavera comienza en marzo. (Spring begins in March.)
• Cultural note: Spring festivals, like Las Fallas in Valencia, Spain, often occur in March.

Abril (April): Likely derived from aperire, Latin for “to open,” symbolizing the blossoming of flowers.

• Example: Las lluvias de abril traen flores de mayo. (April showers bring May flowers.)

The Summer Months (Mayo, Junio, Julio, Agosto)

In the northern hemisphere, summer brings warmth, travel, and celebrations across many Spanish-speaking countries. 

Mayo (May): Named for Maia, the Roman goddess of growth.

• Example: En mayo, celebramos el Día de la Madre. (In May, we celebrate Mother’s Day.)
• Cultural note: Many countries celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5th, marking the Battle of Puebla.

Junio (June): From Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage.

• Example: El verano comienza en junio. (Summer begins in June.)

Julio (July): Named after Julius Caesar.

• Example: En julio, hace mucho calor. (In July, it’s very hot.)

Agosto (August): Named after Emperor Augustus.

• Example: Vamos de vacaciones en agosto. (We go on vacation in August.)
• Cultural note: In many Spanish-speaking countries, August is peak vacation time.

The Autumn Months (Septiembre, Octubre, Noviembre)

Autumn months bring cooler weather and cultural celebrations.

Septiembre (September): From septem, meaning “seven” in Latin.

• Example: En septiembre, comienza el otoño. (In September, autumn begins.)

Octubre (October): From octo, meaning “eight.”

• Example: Halloween se celebra en octubre. (Halloween is celebrated in October.)

Noviembre (November): From novem, meaning “nine.”

• Example: El Día de los Muertos es en noviembre. (The Day of the Dead is in November.)
• Cultural note: Día de los Muertos is a beloved holiday in Mexico, honoring deceased loved ones with altars, food, and decorations.

The Winter Months (Diciembre, Enero, Febrero)

Winter months include major holidays like Christmas and New Year’s.

Diciembre (December): From decem, meaning “ten.”

• Example: La Navidad es en diciembre. (Christmas is in December.)
• Cultural note: In Spain and Latin America, Christmas is celebrated with family gatherings, midnight mass, and traditional foods like tamales or turrón.

Enero and Febrero: Already discussed, these months often include wintry weather in the Northern Hemisphere.

Understanding Seasons Across Hemispheres

When we think of summer months, we often associate them with junio (June), julio (July), and agosto (August). However, this perspective is based on the Northern Hemisphere, where these months are typically warm and sunny. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flipped due to the Earth’s axial tilt.

Northern Hemisphere (E.g., Spain, Mexico, USA)

• Summer: Junio, julio, agosto
• Winter: Diciembre, enero, febrero

Southern Hemisphere (E.g., Argentina, Chile, Australia)

• Summer: Diciembre, enero, febrero
• Winter: Junio, julio, agosto

For example:

• In Spain or Mexico, people celebrate summer vacations in July and August, often heading to the beach.
• In Argentina, December marks the start of summer, and many people celebrate Christmas and New Year’s in warm weather—sometimes at the beach!

Keep Practicing Your Spanish!

Learning the months in Spanish is more than just memorizing a list; it’s about understanding the key aspects of the language that ties you to ordinary conversations, cultural customs, and the rhythm of life in Spanish-speaking countries. From learning how seasons differ between hemispheres to mastering pronunciation and sentence structure, you now have the tools to successfully discuss dates, schedules, and holidays in Spanish.

Remember, practice is essential! Use a calendar, write down important events in Spanish, or challenge yourself by describing your favorite month and why you love it. The more you use these words in real-life situations, the more natural they’ll feel.

So, what’s next? Keep building on this knowledge—explore Spanish days of the week, seasons, and holidays to deepen your understanding of how time is expressed in Spanish. 

Want to learn Spanish? Take your language to the next level! Find a tutor near you today and start your language-learning journey.