If you've ever wanted to communicate fluently in French, starting with the basics is key. This includes master essential vocabulary such as the days of the week and the months of the year. This comprehensive guide will help you learn how to write, pronounce and use these concepts correctly in French. With the reinforcement of videos and practical exercises, as well as cultural information that will facilitate understanding and retention, you will be on your way to mastering this part of the language.
Days of the week in French
Let's start with the days of the week in French, as they are important for everyday communication. Here's how to write and pronounce them correctly:
- Monday - Monday (/lɛ̃'di/)
- Tuesday - Tuesday (/maʀ'di/)
- Wednesday - Wednesday (/mɛʀkʀə'di/)
- Thursday - Thursday (/ʒø'di/)
- Friday - Friday (/vɑ̃dʀə'di/)
- Saturday – Saturday (/samə'di/)
- Sunday – Sunday (/di'mɑ̃ʃ/)
It is important to remember that In French, the days of the week are never capitalized., unless they are at the beginning of a sentence. This is a key detail that, although simple, is often overlooked by non-native speakers.
Another aspect to keep in mind is that All days of the week in French are masculine. Therefore, they are always accompanied by masculine articles, such as 'le' or 'un'. An example would be: Monday (Monday). However, when you are talking about a specific day without referring to a regular event, you don't need to include the article. For example, 'I work on Tuesday' would simply be I work Tuesday.
Examples in context:
- «Cette année, mon anniversaire tombe un samedi!» (This year, my birthday falls on a Saturday!)
- «Le mercredi, we have a meeting at 10am.» (We have a meeting on Wednesdays at 10am.)
- "Le dimanche est réservé à la famille." (Sunday is reserved for family.)
Origin of the days of the week
The days of the week in French have their roots in Roman mythology and celestial bodies, similar to many Western cultures. These origins help us better understand the names of the days in French:
- Monday (Monday) – Derived from the Latin “Lunae”, which means the day of the Moon.
- Tuesday (Martes) – Comes from the god of war, Mars. Similar to Spanish.
- Wednesday (Wednesday) – Refers to Mercury, the messenger god.
- Thursday (Thursday) – Named after Jupiter, god of the sky.
- Friday (Friday) – Comes from Venus, the goddess of love.
- Saturday (Saturday) – Derived from Sabbath, from the Hebrew 'Shabbat'.
- Sunday (Sunday) – Being the day dedicated to 'Dominus', or the Lord, it refers to the Christian day of rest.
How to use the days of the week in French
Using the days of the week correctly in French involves knowing some basic rules:
- To designate a specific day, you can simply use the name of the day: I'll see you tomorrow (I'll see you on Saturday).
- If you are referring to a repeated event, use the article 'le' before the day: I do yoga on Tuesday (I do yoga on Tuesdays).
- To pluralize, add an 's': Les samedis sont pour la détente (Saturdays are for relaxing).
These rules will help you form more precise and natural sentences.
Months of the year in French
Knowing the months of the year is essential when learning any language, especially when talking about important dates. In French, months are written in lowercase, except when they begin a sentence:
- January - January (/ʒɑ̃vje/)
- February - February (/fevʀije/)
- March - Mars (/maʀs/)
- April - April (/avʀil/)
- May - May (/mɛ/)
- June - June (/ʒɥɛ̃/)
- July - July (/ʒɥijɛ/)
- August - August (/u(t)/)
- September - September (/sɛptɑ̃bʀ/)
- October - October (/ɔktɔbʀ/)
- November - November (/nɔvɑ̃bʀ/)
- December - December (/desɑ̃bʀ/)
As in Spanish, most months are pronounced similarly, so they shouldn't be too difficult to learn. A useful tip is to note the phonetic difference in each one, such as certain nasal vowels that don't exist in Spanish.
Examples in context:
- «Mon anniversaire est en septembre.» (My birthday is in September.)
- «Nous reviendrons en avril pour les vacances.» (We will be back in April for the holidays.)
- "Is your baby in December?" (Were you born in December?)
Pronunciation of the months in French
It is important to work on the pronunciation of the months in French, as some sounds can be more difficult for Spanish speakers. Below is a table with the phonetic pronunciation:
| Month | Pronunciation |
|---|---|
| January | /ʒɑ̃vje/ |
| February | /fevʀije/ |
| Mars | /more/ |
| April | /avʀil/ |
| May | /mɛ/ |
| June | /ʒɥɛ̃/ |
| July | /ʒɥijɛ/ |
| August | /u(t)/ |
| September | /sɛptɑ̃bʀ/ |
| October | /ɔktɔbʀ/ |
| November | /nɔvɑ̃bʀ/ |
| December | /desɑ̃bʀ/ |
Remember that many months in French contain nasal sounds ('an', 'en') that need to be practiced to make them sound correct.
Seasons of the year in French
The seasons of the year are also very important in learning how to express annual events. In French, the seasons are pronounced and written as follows:
- Spring Season: Spring
- Summer: Summer
- Fall Season: Autumn
- Winter: Winter
Examples in context:
- "J'adore l'été parce qu'il fait chaud." (I love summer because it's hot.)
- "L'hiver est la meilleure saison pour le ski." (Winter is the best season for skiing.)
The seasons are also masculine, meaning that any adjective describing them must also agree with this gender.
How to write the date in French
In French, the rules for writing dates are similar to those in English, but there are some important differences:
- Le + day (with cardinal numbers) + month: May the 15 2023 (May 15, 2023).
- With the day of the week: Monday, May 15, 2023 (Monday, May 15, 2023).
- For the first day of the month: Use 'le premier': first january (January 1st).
Remember that months and days in French are not capitalized, except at the beginning of a sentence.
With this information and a little practice, you'll be more than ready to communicate fluently about dates, days and months in French. Keep practicing!