Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Months-of-the-Year

Months of the Year in Latin: Spelling, Pronunciation and Origin

The Roman Calendar

Hello Latin Language learners 😊!

In today's lesson, we will learn everything about the Latin months of the year.

For each month of the year, you will learn:

1. How to write the month in Latin
2. How to pronounce it (listen to the audio recording)
3. What does it mean? Where does it come from? (etymology). The Latin names are all taken from the Roman calendar (whereas our current calendar is "the Gregorian Calendar"). Most names refer to illustrious names from Roman mythology and politics. Thanks to the explanations below, you will be able to shine in society every first of the month!

Happy learning! 😀

The 12 Months of the Year in Latin: Spelling, Pronunciation & Origin

Number*	Months** in Latin	Translation	Latin Pronunciation	Meaning & Origin
I	Mensis Martius	March		The month of the god Mars, the famous god of warriors, youth and violence.
II	Mensis Aprilis	April		We do not know precisely the etymology of the name April. Certainly, we know the Latin root aprilis, which, once again, was used to form the English April, but its meaning remains obscure.
III	Mensis Maius	May		The month of Maia, Roman goddess of fertility and spring.
IV	Mensis Iunius	June		The most widespread etymology links the name of this month to that of Lucius Junius Brutus, the legendary founder of the Roman Republic.
V	Mensis Iulius	July		The month of Emperor Julius Caesar.
VI	Mensis Augustus	August		The month of the first Roman emperor, Augustus.
VII	Mensis September	September		Seventh Month
VIII	Mensis October	October		Eighth Month
IX	Mensis November	November		Ninth Month
X	Mensis December	December		Tenth Month
XI	Mensis Ianuarius	January		The month of the god Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, choices, passage, and doors.
XII	Mensis Februarius	February		The month of purification. The Latin Februarius (still at the origin of the English February) means "month of purification", itself derived from februum, "means of purifying".

Notes

* In the first Roman calendar, March was the first month of the year

** In Latin, the word "month" is written mensis in the singular and menses in the plural.

Related Latin Lessons

• How to Count to 10 in Latin
• How to Count to 100 in Latin
• Days of the Week in Latin
• Months of the Year in Latin
• Seasons in Latin
• How to Tell the Time in Latin
• Colors in Latin
• Body Parts in Latin
• Family in Latin

Count to 10 in All Languages

• Summary
• Numeral Systems
• Count to 10 in French
• Count to 10 in Latin
• Count to 10 in Chinese
• Count to 10 in modern Greek
• Count to 10 in Russian
• Count to 10 in Swedish
• Count to 10 in Thai

Sources

• https://www.projet-voltaire.fr/culture-generale/dossier-special-dou-viennent-noms-mois-de-lannee/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar