Months of the Year in German: 12 Names, Pronunciation & Tips
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 help, gender rules, common mistakes, and a quick practice routine you can start today.
What are the German month names and how are they pronounced?
All month names are masculine nouns, so they use the article der. Pronunciation follows standard German rules; the most tricky parts are the umlauts and the final "r". Listen to each word with the free listen-and-repeat tool to lock in the sounds.
- Januar – /ˈjaːnu̯aːɐ̯/ – "January"
- Februar – /feˈbʁuːaɐ̯/ – "February"
- März – /mɛʁts/ – "March"
- April – /aˈpʁɪl/ – "April"
- Mai – /maɪ̯/ – "May"
- Juni – /ˈjuːni/ – "June"
- Juli – /ˈjuːli/ – "July"
- August – /aʊˈɡʊst/ – "August"
- September – /zɛpˈtɛm.bɐ/ – "September"
- Oktober – /ɔkˈtoːbɐ/ – "October"
- November – /noˈvɛm.bɐ/ – "November"
- Dezember – /deˈt͡sɛm.bɐ/ – "December"
How do I use months in sentences?
Because the months are masculine, you use im (in the) + month when talking about a date: im Januar (in January). Here are ten useful mini‑sentences.
- Ich habe im März Geburtstag. (My birthday is in March.)
- Der Kurs beginnt im Oktober. (The course starts in October.)
- Wir reisen im Juli nach Berlin. (We travel to Berlin in July.)
- Im Dezember schneit es oft. (It often snows in December.)
- Mein Vertrag läuft bis Ende Juni. (My contract runs until the end of June.)
- Im Februar gibt es Karneval. (There is Carnival in February.)
- Der Frühling kommt im April. (Spring comes in April.)
- Im November wird es früher dunkel. (It gets dark earlier in November.)
- Ich habe im August Urlaub. (I have vacation in August.)
- Im Januar ist das Wetter kalt. (The weather is cold in January.)
Practice these sentences with the free everyday phrases list to see them in context.
Why do some months have an umlaut and how do I write them?
Only März contains an umlaut (ä). Remember the three German umlaut letters: ä, ö, ü. They change the vowel sound and also affect spelling in plural forms, but months never pluralise. If you type on a keyboard without umlauts, use ae, oe, ue as a fallback (e.g., Maerz for März).
Practical 5‑step routine to master the months
Use this short daily drill until the names feel automatic.
- Listen to each month with listen‑and‑repeat for 30 seconds.
- Write the month in German, then translate it to English.
- Say a sentence using im + month (pick one from the list above).
- Check your spelling with the word of the day tool – set the month as today’s word.
- Review all twelve months in a random order; aim for 2 minutes without hesitation.
How can I practice months with German Buddy?
German Buddy’s free prompt library includes calendar‑related writing and speaking tasks. Choose a prompt like “Describe your favorite month” and record your answer. The app gives you a gentle correction and a short tip, helping you internalise the correct article and pronunciation. start practising free – you get 7 days unlimited, then a free daily allowance that never runs out.
FAQ
Do German months have plural forms?
No. Months are always used in the singular, even when talking about multiple months (e.g., im Januar und Februar).
Is the article always "der" for months?
Yes. All month names are masculine, so you use der in the nominative case and im (in the) for the dative when indicating a time.
How do I write months in all‑caps for a calendar?
Simply capitalize the first letter as usual: Januar, Februar, etc. German orthography does not require full caps for month names.
Can I learn the months without a teacher?
Absolutely. Use the free tools on German Buddy, repeat the audio, and practice the 5‑step routine daily. Consistent exposure will lock the names in your memory within a week.