Whether you’re looking to celebrate Oktoberfest or you’re going on vacation in Germany from Juni to August, you’ll need to know the names of the months in German. Although they have lots of similarities with their English counterparts, don’t be fooled; there are a few major differences that you need to remember before you can use these terms with ease.
In this article, we’ll go over the months in German and how to pronounce them, helpful expressions when using them in daily conversation, and common mistakes to avoid when scheduling in a German context. We’ll also cover a few commonly asked questions about the German calendar in different regions so you feel comfortable with these important topics from Januar to Dezember.
So, let’s get going!
Naming the months in German
Since the German calendar is based off of the Gregorian calendar (like most of the Western world), learning the months in German shouldn’t be overly complicated. In fact, if you’re already an English speaker, you’ll notice how similar they are in both languages, with four of the months being spelled the exact same way.
The months in German are:
- Januar – January
- Februar – February
- März – March
- April – April
- Mai – Mai
- Juni – June
- Juli – July
- August – August
- September – September
- Oktober – October
- November – November
- Dezember – December
Once you’ve got these twelve months down, daily conversations will become much smoother. You’ll be able to pick up social invites – and offer them, too!
How to pronounce the months in German
If you’ve already learned a little German, you might have realized that there are some major differences between the English pronunciation of certain letters and their German counterparts.
Here are some common pronunciation patterns:
- “J” in German is pronounced like the “y” sound in English, as in “yes.”
- “S” in German is pronounced like the “z” sound in English, as in “zebra.”
- “U” in German is pronounced like the “oo” sound in English, as in “room.”
With these key sounds in mind, it becomes much easier to pronounce the months of the year in German.
The following is an exact pronunciation guide for each one:
- Januar – YAH-noo-ahr
- Februar – FAR-broo-ahr
- März – mehrts
- April – AH-pril
- Mai – my
- Juni – YU-nee
- Juli – YU-lee
- August – ow-GOOST
- September – zehp-TEHM-ber
- Oktober – ok-TOH-ber
- November – no-VEHM-ber
- Dezember – deh-TSEM-ber
You’ll notice that much of the emphasis in German is similar to in English, but “Juli” (July) is an exception. Pay attention to tricky sounds like the German “z” (pronounced more softly than the English “z”, like a combination of “t” and “s”) and the German “e” (pronounced in a more open way than in English, similar to an “a” sound).
Want to practice more? Learn German with Anja provides excellent audio resources for perfecting your pronunciation of the months in the German language. There are also some fun songs on YouTube that can help you practice in your spare time!
Useful phrases and expressions
Now that you know the names of the months in German and how to pronounce them, let’s learn how to use them in conversation.
If you want to refer to a month, you can say, “Im…”. For example, you might say, “Im August, werde ich nach Spanien ans Meer fahren.” (In August, I’m going to the seaside in Spain.)
Here are some useful phrases for discussing future plans and appointments:
- Unsere Freunde werden im Januar zu Besuch kommen.
(Our friends will come to visit in January.)
- Ihr Arzt steht Ihnen jederzeit vor September zur Verfügung.
(Your doctor is available to see you any time before September.)
- Nach Juni stehe ich Ihnen nicht mehr zur Verfügung, um Ihnen beim Umzug zu helfen.
(After June, I won’t be available to help you move.)
- Ich plane nächsten Juli eine Reise zu meinen Großeltern.
(I’m planning a trip to see my grandparents next July.)
- Letzten März wurde ich befördert und kaufte schließlich ein neues Auto.
(Last March, I got a job promotion and ended up buying a new car.)
Months are also great for discussing special occasions, such as holidays or weddings. To mark special events on the calendar, you might hear or use the following phrases:
- Ich plane eine Hochzeit im September.
(I’m planning a wedding in September.)
- Unsere Familie feiert Ostern, indem sie sich im April im Haus meines Vaters versammelt.
(Our family is celebrating Easter by gathering at my father’s house in April.)
- Im November werden meine amerikanischen Freunde eine Thanksgiving-Feier veranstalten.
(In November, my American friends are going to host a Thanksgiving celebration.)
- Ich bin nervös wegen des Valentinstags im Februar.
(I’m nervous about Valentine’s Day this February.)
You can inquire about someone’s birthday by asking, “Wann ist dein Geburtstag?” (When is your birthday?) If you want to share your own, you can say, “Mein Geburtstag ist der 4. Oktober.” (My birthday is October 4.)
Common mistakes to avoid
The guttural sounds in German can present a challenge for some speakers, but rest assured; with guidance and practice, near-native pronunciation will come in time. However, there are a few key mispronunciations you want to watch out for from the get-go. For example, Juni and Juli won’t be at all recognizable to the average German speaker if you pronounce the words the way you would in English.
Wondering how to avoid mixing up month names? You can make up a silly mnemonic to remember the order of the German months, such as “Josephine Franklin Makes Almond Marshmallows, Jiggly Jello, And Several Odd Nutty Desserts.” Good old-fashioned flashcards also never hurt, and you can even use an online format like Quizlet to take them with you when you’re on the go.
Finally, you should be aware of some cultural blunders to steer clear of when using your new calendar vocabulary. If you make a plan for a certain month with a German person but have to cancel, warn them far in advance. To do that, you might say, “Es tut mir leid, aber ich werde es nächsten Monat wegen eines Arzttermins nicht schaffen.” (I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to make it next month because of a doctor’s appointment.) And whenever you do have an appointment, avoid being late.
Conclusion
Without knowing the German months, it’s difficult to stay on top of your schedule. If you want to make appointments, see friends, and schedule meetings in a German-speaking context, it’s essential to learn the months of the year in German.
Feeling overwhelmed? A Preply tutor can help you out! With nearly a thousand German tutors to choose from, you’ll find the perfect support to remember the German months, days of the week, seasons, and more! Whether you want to go back to basics or learn how to say sorry, your Preply tutor will have tons of practical tips, helpful exercises, and expert advice to help you reach your German language-learning goals.
