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months of the year in german: 12 names & pronunciation

The months of the year in German are: Januar (January), Februar (February), März (March), April (April), Mai (May), Juni (June), Juli (July), August (August), September (September), Oktober (October), November (November) and Dezember (December). Below you will find pronunciation tips, date‑writing rules, a memorisation routine, and ways to practise with German Buddy.

What are the months of the year in german?

German month names are almost identical to their English counterparts, but they follow German spelling and gender rules. All months are masculine (der) except Mai and Juni, which are also masculine. Here is a quick reference with a sample sentence for each month:

  • Januar – Ich habe im Januar einen neuen Job angefangen. (I started a new job in January.)
  • Februar – Der Karneval findet im Februar statt. (The carnival takes place in February.)
  • März – Im März blühen die ersten Blumen. (In March the first flowers bloom.)
  • April – Der Regen im April ist typisch. (The rain in April is typical.)
  • Mai – Wir feiern den Mai-Tag mit einem Picknick. (We celebrate May Day with a picnic.)
  • Juni – Im Juni beginnen die Sommerferien. (The summer holidays begin in June.)
  • Juli – Der Juli-Hit war überall im Radio. (The July hit was on every radio.)
  • August – Im August fahren wir ans Meer. (In August we go to the sea.)
  • September – Der Herbst beginnt im September. (Autumn starts in September.)
  • Oktober – Das Oktoberfest ist im Oktober. (The Oktoberfest is in October.)
  • November – Am 11. November gedenken wir des Martinstages. (On November 11 we commemorate St. Martin's Day.)
  • Dezember – Wir kaufen Geschenke im Dezember. (We buy gifts in December.)

Listening to each word on our free everyday phrases tool helps you hear the natural intonation.

How do you pronounce the German month names correctly?

German pronunciation follows consistent rules: the vowel ä sounds like the “e” in “bed”, ö like the “i” in “bird”, and ü like the French “u”. Most month names end with a clear “‑r” that is lightly rolled. Pay special attention to März – the “z” is pronounced like “ts”.

Try these quick checks:

  • Say Januar – the “J” sounds like English “Y”.
  • Say Februar – the “eu” is pronounced like “oy”.
  • Say Oktober – the “o” is a short “o” as in “off”.

Our free word‑of‑the‑day page often features a month name, letting you compare your recording with a native speaker.

How do you write dates with German month names?

German dates can be written in two common ways: the numeric format (DD.MM.YYYY) and the expanded format using month names. In the expanded format the day is followed by the month name and the year, without a comma.

Examples:

  • 15. März 2024 – 15 March 2024
  • 1. Januar 2025 – 1 January 2025
  • 31. Dezember 2023 – 31 December 2023

When speaking, you usually add the definite article: am 15. März (on March 15). Practice this pattern with the free numbers tool to master day‑month‑year combinations.

Practical steps to memorize the months

Use this 3‑step routine daily until the list sticks:

  1. Visualise a calendar and say each month aloud, pairing it with a personal event (e.g., birthday in Juli).
  2. Write the month names in a notebook, then cover them and rewrite from memory.
  3. Listen & repeat each month using the listen‑and‑repeat tool, focusing on the final “‑r”.

After a week, test yourself by writing today’s date in the expanded format without looking at any reference.

How to practice month names with German Buddy

German Buddy’s free prompt library includes daily writing and speaking tasks that ask you to describe events using month names. For example, the prompt “Describe a memorable holiday in August” lets you type or speak, and the app returns a natural‑sounding correction plus one short tip.

Start with the Conversation mode: role‑play a phone call where you schedule a meeting for November 10th. The app will highlight any article or case errors instantly.

When you feel confident, switch to the Vocabulary Swipe deck and filter by the tag “months”. You’ll see the 12 words with audio, IPA, and example sentences – perfect for spaced repetition.

Ready to try? start practising free. You get 7 days of unlimited practice, then a free daily allowance that never runs out.

FAQ

Do German month names have plural forms?

No. Month names are used only in singular form, even when referring to multiple months (e.g., im Sommer von Juni bis August – “in summer from June to August”).

Why is März spelled with an “ä” and not “ae”?

German orthography uses the umlaut “ä” to represent the fronted “a” sound. In contexts where umlauts cannot be typed, “ae” is an acceptable substitute, but the native spelling is preferred.

Can I use the English month names when speaking German?

Native speakers expect the German forms. Using English month names is understood in international settings, but it sounds foreign and may lead to misunderstandings in formal contexts.

How do I say “the first of May” correctly?

Say der erste Mai. Note that the article “der” matches the masculine gender of Mai, and the ordinal “erste” agrees with the noun.