I’ve also included each month’s abbreviation (short form) and the origin of its name.
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How to pronounce JANUARY
- Abbreviation: Jan
- Origin: Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who had two faces looking both forward and backward, symbolizing the transition from one year to the next.
- Holidays: New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Martin Luther King Day (third Monday in January)
How to pronounce FEBRUARY
- Abbreviation: Feb
- Origin: Derived from Februa, a purification ritual held in ancient Rome during this month. It was a time of purification and preparation for the coming year.
- Holidays: Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14)
How to pronounce MARCH
- Abbreviation: Mar
- Origin: Named after Mars, the Roman god of war. March was associated with the arrival of spring and the beginning of military campaigns in ancient Rome.
- Holidays: St. Patrick’s Day (Mar. 17)
How to pronounce APRIL
- Abbreviation: Apr
- Origin: The origin of the name is uncertain, but it may have come from the Latin word “aperire,” meaning “to open,” referring to the opening of buds and flowers in the spring.
- Holidays: Easter Sunday falls between March 22 and April 25
How to pronounce MAY
- Abbreviation: May
- Origin: Derived from Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and fertility. May was considered a time of abundant growth and blossoming in the natural world.
- Holidays: Mother’s Day (second Sunday in May), Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
How to pronounce JUNE
- Abbreviation: Jun
- Origin: Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth. June was considered an auspicious month for weddings.
- Holidays: Juneteenth (June 19), Father’s Day (third Sunday in June)
How to pronounce JULY
- Abbreviation: Jul
- Origin: Named in honor of Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman, who was born in this month. Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, from which the Gregorian calendar evolved.
- Holidays: Independence Day (July 4)
How to pronounce August
- Abbreviation: Aug
- Origin: Named after Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor, who ruled during the month of August. Originally, August was a 30-day month, but it was later expanded to match the length of July.
- Holidays: No major ones in the U.S.
How to pronounce September
- Abbreviation: Sep or Sept
- Origin: Derived from the Latin word “septem,” meaning “seven.” In the ancient Roman calendar, September was the seventh month.
- Holidays: Labor Day (first Monday in September)
How to pronounce October
- Abbreviation: Oct
- Origin: Derived from the Latin word “octo,” meaning “eight.” In the ancient Roman calendar, October was the eighth month.
- Holidays: Halloween (Oct 31)
How to pronounce November
- Abbreviation: Nov
- Origin: Derived from the Latin word “novem,” meaning “nine.” In the ancient Roman calendar, November was the ninth month.
- Holidays: Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November)
How to pronounce December
- Abbreviation: Dec
- Origin: Derived from the Latin word “decem,” meaning “ten.” In the ancient Roman calendar, December was the tenth month.
- Holidays: Christmas (Dec 25)
Now you know how to say the months of the year in English correctly!
- Learn more about how to say and write the date in English.
