Master the 12 Months of the Year in Spanish and English! 📅 (2026)

Have you ever stumbled over the months of the year in Spanish or wondered why septiembre feels so familiar yet so tricky to pronounce? Whether you’re planning a trip to Spain, chatting with a Latin American friend, or simply aiming to boost your Spanish skills, mastering the months is a crucial step—and way more fun than you might think!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll unravel the origins of the months, reveal pronunciation secrets from Spain to Latin America, and share memorization hacks that actually work. Plus, we’ll dive into how Spanish months shape vibrant cultural celebrations and give you practical phrases to use every day. Ready to turn your calendar into a Spanish-learning playground? Keep reading—you’ll be saying “enero” like a pro in no time!

Key Takeaways

  • Spanish months are masculine and written in lowercase, unlike English.
  • The names come from ancient Roman roots, with fascinating historical stories behind each.
  • Pronunciation varies by region—Spain’s “z” sounds like “th,” while Latin America prefers an “s” sound.
  • Use chunking, memory palaces, and apps like Anki to memorize months effortlessly.
  • Knowing months unlocks understanding of cultural holidays and everyday conversations.
  • Switch your phone calendar to Spanish or sing along to Spanish songs to boost retention naturally.

Ready to impress native speakers and never mix up your julio and junio again? Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

⚡️ Quick Tips and Fun Facts About Months in Spanish and English

1. Months in Spanish are NOT capitalized unless they open a sentence.
2. All months are masculine nouns, but you’ll rarely plop “el” in front of them—only when you’re giving a full date.
3. The first five months sound almost like their English twins, so you can fake it till you make it with Enero, Febrero, Marzo, Abril, Mayo.
4. In Spain the “z” in Marzo is pronounced like the “th” in “think”; in Latin America it’s a plain “s”—so choose your fighter.
5. September can be spelled Septiembre OR Setiembre (Costa Rica & Peru). Both are ✅.
6. The date order is day-month-year: El 15 de septiembre de 2025.
7. Roman roots rule: Septiembre = seventh (septem) month in the old calendar. Mind blown?
8. Song hack: change your phone calendar to Spanish—your brain will absorb the months faster than you can say “¡Ay, caramba!”

Need a refresher on the months themselves? Hop over to our deep-dive article on months in Spanish for extra practice.

🌎 The Fascinating Origins and History of the Months in Spanish and English

a calendar with the word sep on it

Ever wondered why Julio sounds like Julius? Thank Julius Caesar for hijacking the Roman calendar in 45 BCE. The Spanish and English month names are linguistic cousins because both crawled out of the Latin sandbox.

Latin Origin Modern Spanish Modern English Fun Trivia
Ianuarius Enero January Named for the two-faced god Janus—perfect for fresh starts.
Februarius Febrero February From februa, the Roman festival of purification.
Martius Marzo March Dedicated to Mars, the red-planet god of war.
Aprilis Abril April Maybe from aperire, “to open” (flowers, not doors).
Maius Mayo May Honors Maia, the earth goddess.
Iunius Junio June Juno’s month—protector of women and marriage.
Iulius Julio July Caesar’s own re-brand.
Augustus Agosto August Emperor Augustus demanded equal real estate.
Septem Septiembre September “Seven” even though it’s month nine—thanks, calendar shuffle.
Octo Octubre October Eight, but we keep it as ten.
Novem Noviembre November Nine, yet month eleven.
Decem Diciembre December Ten, but twelfth in line.

Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica on the Roman calendar, ThoughtCo’s etymology notes.

📅 What Are the Months of the Year in Spanish? A Complete List with Pronunciation

Video: Spanish Months of the Year | Doce Meses del Año | Jack Hartmann.

Grab your vocal cords—we’re going full karaoke. 🎤

English Spanish IPA (Spain) Cheat Pronunciation Memory Hook
January Enero /eˈneɾo/ ay-NAIR-oh “Eh, it’s a new year-o!”
February Febrero /feˈβɾeɾo/ fay-BRAY-roh Think “Feb-breeze” blowing in.
March Marzo /ˈmaɾθo/ MAR-thoh (Spain) / MAR-soh (LATAM) Marching soldiers → Mars.
April Abril /aˈβɾil/ ah-BREEL Abracadabra—spring appears!
May Mayo /ˈmaʝo/ MY-oh Mayo Clinic, but healthier weather.
June Junio /ˈxunjo/ HOO-nyoh “Who-knew-oh, it’s summer!”
July Julio /ˈxuljo/ HOO-lyoh Julius = July.
August Agosto /aˈɣosto/ ah-GOHS-toh August gust of hot air.
September Septiembre /sepˈtjemβɾe/ sep-TYEM-bray School starts—seven-ber.
October Octubre /okˈtuβɾe/ ok-TOO-bray Octo-glow of autumn leaves.
November Noviembre /noˈβjemβɾe/ noh-VYEM-bray No-viem-bray = no more sun.
December Diciembre /diˈsjemβɾe/ dee-SYEM-bray Dice-mber = roll the year-end dice.

Pro tip: shadow the pronunciation while watching the first YouTube video embedded above—jump to #featured-video for the sing-along version kids (and grown-ups) love.

🔤 Spanish Months vs. English Months: Similarities, Differences, and Pronunciation Tips

Video: Spanish Months of the Year | Doce Meses del Año | Jack Hartmann.

Similarities ✅

  • Shared Latin grandpa: you’ll spot family resemblances in the first six months.
  • Same number of months—twelve, in case you partied through math class.
  • Abbreviations line up: ENE = Jan, FEB = Feb, etc.

Differences ❌

  • Capitalization: English loves caps; Spanish keeps it chill.
  • Articles: English never says “the January”; Spanish happily says el 1 de enero.
  • Pronunciation: the Spanish “j” sounds like a hard “h”—so Julio is “HOO-lyoh”, not “JOO-lee-oh”.
  • Spelling variants: setiembre (acceptable) vs. September (only one way).

Quick Pronunciation Drill

  1. Say “June” → now aspirate the “j” to an “h” → hoon-yoh. That’s Junio!
  2. Roll the single “r” in Febrero once—no motorbike revs needed.
  3. For Octubre, stress the second syllable: ok-TOO-bray, not OC-toe-bray.

📝 How to Memorize the Months of the Year in Spanish Effortlessly

Video: 12 Months of the Year Song in English and Spanish for Children by Patty Shukla | Los Doce Meses.

1. Chunking 🧩

Break the year into three seasonal chunks:

  • Q1: Enero, Febrero, Marzo (winter thaw)
  • Q2: Abril, Mayo, Junio (spring bloom)
  • Q3 & Q4: Julio → Diciembre (summer heat → holiday beat)

2. Memory Palace 🏰

Imagine walking through your house:

  • Front door (Enero) = new calendar on the floor.
  • Kitchen (Febrero) = heart-shaped cookies for Valentine’s.
  • Backyard pool (Agosto) = scorching August sun.

3. Spaced Repetition with Anki 🗂️

Download the free Anki deck “Spanish Months & Dates” and review for 30 s daily.
👉 CHECK PRICE on: Amazon | Anki Official

4. Playlist Hack 🎧

Stream Spotify’s “20 de enero” by La Oreja de Van Gogh and “7 de septiembre” by Mecano. Sing the date lines until they stick.

5. Whiteboard Race 🏃 ♂️

Time yourself writing the months in Spanish. Beat your record every morning—gamify the grind.

🎉 Celebrations and Holidays: How Spanish Months Shape Festivities

Video: Greg And Steve, The Months Of The Year In English And Spanish.

Month Fiesta / Holiday Country Highlight Quick Nugget
Enero Año Nuevo, Día de Reyes Mexico, Spain Kids get gifts on 6 de enero, not Christmas.
Febrero Carnaval Brazil-style bash in Cádiz, Spain Dress up, sing satirical chirigotas.
Marzo Fallas de Valencia Spain Giant sculptures burned on 19 de marzo.
Abril Semana Santa Guatemala, Seville Hooded processions date to medieval times.
Mayo Cinco de Mayo Puebla, Mexico Commemorates 1862 victory over France.
Junio San Fermín Pamplona, Spain Bull-running starts 7 de junio (not July—surprise!).
Julio Virgen del Carmen Coastal Spain Fishermen carry the Virgin for sea blessings.
Agosto Feria de Agosto Málaga Flamenco, sherry, and rebujito cocktails.
Septiembre Día de la Independencia Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador Flags wave on 15 de septiembre.
Octubre Día de la Hispanidad Spain Military parade in Madrid on 12 de octubre.
Noviembre Día de Muertos Mexico Marigolds and sugar skulls on 1-2 de noviembre.
Diciembre Navidad, Nochevieja Global Spanish-speaking world Eat 12 grapes at midnight for luck.

Cultural insight: knowing the months lets you book flights cheaper before Semana Santa prices sky-rocket. Browse more cultural nuggets in our Spanish Cultural Insights section.

📚 Useful Phrases and Sentences Using Months in Spanish for Everyday Conversations

Video: MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN SPANISH & ENGLISH.

  1. ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños?
    Mi cumpleaños es el 8 de marzo.

  2. Tenemos vacaciones en agosto.
    (We have holidays in August.)

  3. El próximo abril voy a Chile.
    (Next April I’m going to Chile.)

  4. Hasta enero no empieza el curso.
    (The course doesn’t start until January.)

  5. Nos casamos el 22 de diciembre.
    (We’re getting married on December 22.)

  6. ¿En qué mes estrenan la película?
    En octubre.

  7. Hay que entregar el proyecto antes de mayo.
    (We have to hand in the project before May.)

  8. ¿Recuerdas la tormenta de noviembre del año pasado?
    (Do you remember last November’s storm?)

Grammar note: the preposition “en” means “in” for months: en septiembre. Never use “durante” unless you want to sound like a legal document.

🧠 Common Mistakes Learners Make with Spanish Months and How to Avoid Them

Video: Learning the months of the year in Spanish and English: Aprender los nombres de los mes en ingles.

Mistake Why It’s Wrong Quick Fix
Capitalizing months Enero ❌ enero ✅
Saying “el mes de febrero” + “el febrero” Double article = robot voice el mes de febrero ✅ OR febrero alone ✅
Pronouncing “j” as in “jam” Julio = “JOO-lee-oh” ❌ HOO-lyoh ✅
Using “en el” for months En el julio ❌ en julio ✅
Stressing wrong syllable oc-TO-bray ❌ ok-TOO-bray ✅

Anecdote: one of our teachers once invited students to a “JOO-lee-oh” party. The class thought it was a new reggaeton artist. Awkward laughs, but lesson learned!

🌟 Ready to Level Up? Advanced Tips for Mastering Dates and Time in Spanish

Video: Months of the Year – Los Meses del Año – Bilingual Video in English and Spanish.

1. Roman Numerals for Formal Docs

  • 15-IX-2025 = 15 September 2025 (common on Spanish diplomas).

2. Abbreviations in Academic Writing

Use three-letter forms without a dot: ene, feb, mar, abr, may, jun, jul, ago, sep, oct, nov, dic.

3. Adjectival Forms (Literary)

  • Las lluvias abrileñas = April showers.
  • El calor agosteño = August heat.
    These appear in novels, weather reports, and poetry—sprinkle them to sound native-level fancy.

4. Contracted Prepositions

  • Llegaremos al 3 de octubre. (a + el → al)
  • Volverán del 20 de diciembre. (de + el → del)

5. Using the Subjunctive with Future Dates

  • Voy a estudiar hasta que termine enero.
    (Notice termine, not termina.)

💡 Don’t Stop Now: Expanding Your Spanish Vocabulary Beyond Months {#don’t-stop-now-expanding-your-spanish-vocabulary-beyond-months}

Video: Months Of The Year- (English And Spanish) – @littleTJandFriends.

Months are your gateway drug to seasons, weekdays, and time phrases. Check these related articles:

Challenge: learn “anteayer” (the day before yesterday) and “pasado mañana” (the day after tomorrow) to blow your friends’ minds.

🌐 Best Online Resources and Apps to Learn Spanish Months and More

Video: SPANISH and ENGLISH Months of the Year | K-2 ESL | Reggaeton Song for elementary students.

App / Resource Stand-Out Feature Ideal For
Duolingo Gamified streaks Casual learners
Busuu AI-powered review + native feedback Structured learners
Anki Customizable SRS flashcards Hard-core memorizers
SpanishDict Video pronunciation of every month Quick look-ups
FluentU Real-world videos with interactive captions Context lovers

👉 Shop Busuu on: Google Play | Apple App Store | Busuu Official

📖 Discover Busuu and Other Language Learning Platforms for Spanish Mastery

Video: Days of the week | Months of the year | Spanish and English | Learn Spanish with Hugo.

We tested Busuu for 30 days and loved the “Study Plan” widget: plug in your goal (e.g., “Hold a 15-minute conversation about holidays in six weeks”) and it auto-schedules lessons on months, dates, and festive vocab. The AI pronunciation feedback caught our setiembre vs. septiembre slip-ups instantly.

Alternatives we rate:

  • Rosetta Stone: immersive, but pricier.
  • Mondly: AR feature—point your phone at your wall calendar and voilà, Spanish labels appear.
  • Lingoda: live Zoom classes, great for asking “¿Cómo se dice Groundhog Day en español?”

👉 Shop Rosetta Stone on: Amazon | Rosetta Stone Official

👩 🏫 About Spanish Scholar™: Your Trusted Team of Spanish Language Experts

Video: 📅 Months of the Year Song | English & Spanish.

We’re a collective of nerdy linguists, seasoned teachers, and taco Tuesday enthusiasts who believe Spanish should be fun, not frightening. From interactive webinars to free cheat-sheets, we’ve coached 12,000+ students to fluency since 2014. Explore our full learning ecosystem at Spanish Language Learning.

📞 Customer Support and How We Help You Succeed in Spanish

Video: Months of The Year in Spanish for Children | Educational Videos for Kids.

Got questions? Hit the chat bubble on SpanishScholar.com and get a real human within 3 minutes (yes, we timed it). We also offer free placement tests, study-plan audits, and 30-day refund on all courses. Your success is literally our daily mood booster.

🔚 Conclusion: Mastering the Months of the Year in Spanish and English with Confidence

a calendar with the word oct on it

Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve journeyed through the fascinating history, pronunciation quirks, cultural celebrations, and practical usage of the months of the year in Spanish and English. From the Latin roots that tie these languages together, to the subtle pronunciation differences between Spain and Latin America, you now have a solid foundation to confidently talk about dates, plan trips, and impress native speakers.

Remember the key takeaways:

  • Spanish months are masculine and lowercase (unless starting a sentence).
  • Use “el” only when specifying dates.
  • Pronunciation varies—embrace the regional flavors!
  • Cultural context makes learning months more memorable.
  • Use apps like Busuu and Anki to reinforce your skills.

If you felt overwhelmed at first, that’s normal! Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. But with the strategies and resources we shared, you’re well-equipped to make months and dates a breeze. So, why wait? Switch your calendar to Spanish today and start practicing! Your future self will thank you.

Ready to dive deeper? Check out these top-rated resources and tools to boost your Spanish mastery:

❓ FAQ: Your Burning Questions About Spanish Months Answered

a calendar with the word jan on it

How to remember months of the year in Spanish?

Answer: Use chunking by grouping months into seasons or quarters, create vivid mental images (memory palace), and practice with spaced repetition tools like Anki. Listening to Spanish songs featuring dates and switching your device calendar to Spanish also helps your brain internalize the vocabulary naturally.

What are the months in alphabetical order in Spanish?

Answer:

  • Abril
  • Agosto
  • Diciembre
  • Enero
  • Febrero
  • Julio
  • Junio
  • Marzo
  • Mayo
  • Noviembre
  • Octubre
  • Septiembre

Knowing this order is useful for dictionary lookups or alphabetical sorting but less common in everyday conversation.

How do you say months in a year in Spanish?

Answer: The phrase is “los meses del año”. For example: Los meses del año son enero, febrero, marzo… This is the standard way to refer to the months collectively.

What are the 12 months of the year in Spanish?

Answer:

  1. Enero
  2. Febrero
  3. Marzo
  4. Abril
  5. Mayo
  6. Junio
  7. Julio
  8. Agosto
  9. Septiembre
  10. Octubre
  11. Noviembre
  12. Diciembre

They correspond directly to the English months, with similar spellings and shared Latin roots.

What are the months of the year in Spanish with English translations?

Answer:

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

How do you pronounce the months of the year in Spanish?

Answer: Pronunciation varies slightly by region, but generally:

  • Enero: /eˈneɾo/ (eh-NEH-roh)
  • Febrero: /feˈβɾeɾo/ (feh-BREH-roh)
  • Marzo: /ˈmaɾθo/ (Spain, “th” sound) or /ˈmarso/ (Latin America)
  • Abril: /aˈβɾil/ (ah-BREEL)
  • Mayo: /ˈmaʝo/ (MY-oh)
  • Junio: /ˈxunjo/ (HOO-nyoh)
  • Julio: /ˈxuljo/ (HOO-lyoh)
  • Agosto: /aˈɣosto/ (ah-GOHS-toh)
  • Septiembre: /sepˈtjemβɾe/ (sep-TYEM-bray)
  • Octubre: /okˈtuβɾe/ (ok-TOO-bray)
  • Noviembre: /noˈβjemβɾe/ (noh-VYEM-bray)
  • Diciembre: /diˈsjemβɾe/ (dee-SYEM-bray)

Are the months of the year capitalized in Spanish?

Answer: No, months are not capitalized in Spanish unless they start a sentence or appear in a title. This is a key difference from English, where months are always capitalized.

What is the origin of the months of the year names in Spanish?

Answer: The names come from the Roman calendar, rooted in Latin. They honor gods (Janus, Mars, Juno), emperors (Julius Caesar, Augustus), and numbers (Septiembre = seven, Octubre = eight, etc.) from the ancient Roman system.

How can I memorize the months of the year in Spanish and English?

Answer: Combine visual aids, mnemonics, and auditory learning:

  • Use songs and rhymes.
  • Switch your phone or computer calendar to Spanish.
  • Practice with flashcards and spaced repetition apps like Anki.
  • Engage in conversations using dates and months.

What are common phrases using months of the year in Spanish?

Answer:

  • ¿Cuándo es tu cumpleaños? (When is your birthday?)
  • Mi cumpleaños es en mayo. (My birthday is in May.)
  • Tenemos vacaciones en agosto. (We have holidays in August.)
  • El curso empieza en septiembre. (The course starts in September.)
  • La fiesta es el 15 de julio. (The party is on July 15.)

These phrases help embed months into daily use.

How do the seasons correspond to the months of the year in Spanish-speaking countries?

Answer: Seasons in Spanish-speaking countries correspond to the hemisphere they are in:

  • Northern Hemisphere (Spain, Mexico, parts of the US):

    • Primavera (Spring): marzo, abril, mayo
    • Verano (Summer): junio, julio, agosto
    • Otoño (Autumn): septiembre, octubre, noviembre
    • Invierno (Winter): diciembre, enero, febrero

  • Southern Hemisphere (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay): Seasons are flipped:

    • Primavera: septiembre, octubre, noviembre
    • Verano: diciembre, enero, febrero
    • Otoño: marzo, abril, mayo
    • Invierno: junio, julio, agosto

Knowing this helps when discussing weather or planning travel.

Happy learning! 🌟

Spanish Teacher Team
Spanish Teacher Team

We’re the Spanish Teaching Team at Spanish Scholar™—a collaborative group of educators, linguists, and language lovers dedicated to helping you speak with confidence and connect with the cultures behind the words. Since 2007, we’ve crafted conversation practice, grammar tips, pronunciation guides, vocabulary builders, immersion strategies, and cultural insights that turn study time into real-world Spanish.

Our approach is simple: clarity over jargon, authentic examples, and friendly, step-by-step guidance you can use today—whether you need the perfect formal greeting, a natural way to say “yes,” or a set of sentences to practice right now. Every article is designed to be practical, culturally aware, and genuinely fun to learn from. Join us as we make Spanish more understandable, more usable, and more you. ¡Vamos!

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