Months in French: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Whether you’re planning business trips to Montréal, working with French-speaking colleagues, or simply trying to keep up with your bilingual calendar, learning how to say the months in French is a must!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through all 12 months in French, how to pronounce them, when to capitalize them (or not!), and how to use them naturally in sentences.

At LRDG, we make French learning simple, practical, and accessible, especially for busy professionals. So grab your coffee and let’s dive in!

Why Learn the Months in French?

Knowing the months in French goes far beyond memorizing vocabulary. It’s about helping you communicate clearly in everyday and professional contexts. You’ll use the months all the time. When setting meeting dates, scheduling travel, or talking about project deadlines. For example:

• La réunion est en mars. (The meeting is in March.)
• Le rapport est attendu en septembre. (The report is due in September.)
• La conférence aura lieu en novembre. (The conference will take place in November.)

And for anyone doing business or working with French-speaking teams in Canada or abroad, being able to confidently say and understand dates shows professionalism and cultural awareness.

LRDG Tip: Learning French vocabulary in context (like with months, seasons, and dates) helps your brain remember faster and boosts your speaking confidence! Discover our French programs and trainings today.

The 12 Months in French with Pronunciation Guide

Here are the twelve months in French, along with simple pronunciation tips to help you sound natural: 

You’ll notice that most months look similar to their English counterparts which is a big help for beginners! But pronunciation is where the magic (and the French flair) comes in. 

Pro Tip: Say each word out loud or listen to native audio clips while you practice. LRDG’s online French programs include pronunciation tools and personalized coaching to help you sound authentic. Book a call with our team today!

How to Use Months in French Sentences

Using months in French sentences is simple, but there are a few important rules to remember. 

1. Use “en” before months

In French, we say: 

• en janvier (in January) 

• en juillet (in July) 

Examples: 

• Je commence un nouveau poste en avril. (I’m starting a new position in April.) 

• Nous aurons une formation en novembre. (We’ll have a training session in November.) 

2. Combine with dates

When you want to say a specific date, use the day first, then the month: 

• le 5 mai (May 5th) 

• le 20 octobre (October 20th) 

Example: 

• La conférence aura lieu le 15 mars. (The conference will take place on March 15th.)

Are Months Capitalized in French?

Here’s a rule that surprises many English speakers: months are not capitalized in French! 

That’s right, while you’d write “January” in English, in French it’s “janvier.” 

Correct: Mon anniversaire est en décembre.
Incorrect: Mon anniversaire est en Décembre.

The same rule applies to days of the week and seasons, all lowercase unless they start a sentence. It might feel strange at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly. 

Fun Fact: French writing rules reflect a sense of simplicity, capitalization is reserved for names, places, and titles, not everyday nouns.

Mini Quiz: Test Your Knowledge

Let’s see how much you remember! Try answering these quickly (answers below): 

1. How do you say June in French? 

2. What preposition do you use before a month? 

3. Are months capitalized in French

Answers: 

1. juin 

1. en 

1. No, months are lowercase in French! 

How did you do? 🎉 If you’re ready to keep learning, you’re already on the right track. Building small vocabulary sets like this gives you a strong foundation for real-life French communication. 

Expand Your French Vocabulary

Now that you’ve mastered the months in French, why stop there?
You can explore days of the week, seasons, and essential business vocabulary to boost your confidence at work and in everyday conversations. With the LRDG learning portal, you can dive deeper into these topics through 100% Canadian content, real-life scenarios, and interactive activities designed to make vocabulary stick. Whether you’re preparing for bilingual meetings or improving professional communication, our platform helps you practice pronunciation, listening, and grammar, all in one place.

At LRDG, we make learning engaging and relevant for modern professionals and organizations across Canada. Book a call with one of our language experts today to discover the best French program for you. If you’re part of an organization looking to strengthen bilingual communication, discover our training solutions designed to help teams thrive in both official languages.

Final Thoughts 

Learning the months in French might seem simple, but it’s one of those skills that instantly makes you feel more fluent, whether you’re setting up a meeting, booking travel, or chatting with French-speaking colleagues. Keep practicing, stay curious, and remember: every new word brings you one step closer to mastering the language of culture, connection, and career growth. At LRDG, we’re here to help you every step of the way, from beginner basics to professional fluency.