{"id":70468,"date":"2020-04-22T07:54:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T11:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/months-in-italian\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T06:16:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T10:16:21","slug":"months-in-italian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/italian\/months-in-italian\/","title":{"rendered":"A Simple Guide to the Months in Italian"},"content":{"rendered":"

The word for \u201cmonths\u201d in Italian is mesi<\/em> (or mese<\/em>\u00a0if you\u2019re talking about only one month).<\/p>\n

Note that the names of the months are not capitalized in Italian. Read on for in-depth information about each month, including the culture and traditions<\/strong> surrounding them. I\u2019ll also give you some tips for using the months <\/b>in sentences, discussing calendar time and using an Italian calendar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The 12 Months of the Year in Italian<\/h2>\n

Did you know that March is crazy and a windy June brings wheat to the farmyard?<\/p>\n

Italian is full of countless seasonal proverbs like those. Each month carries important cultural weight, especially when deciding what to eat!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick list of all 12 months and how to say them in Italian<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
January<\/strong><\/td> gennaio<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>jehn-nah-yoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
February<\/strong><\/td> febbraio<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>fehb-brah-yoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March<\/td> marzo<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>mar-tsoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April<\/strong><\/td> aprile<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>ah-pree-leh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
May<\/strong><\/td> maggio<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>mahd-joh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
June<\/strong><\/td> giugno<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>joo-nyoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
July<\/strong><\/td> luglio<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>loo-lyoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
August<\/strong><\/td> agosto<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>ah-goh-stoh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
September<\/strong><\/td> settembre<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>seht-tehm-breh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
October<\/strong><\/td> ottobre<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>oht-toh-breh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
November<\/strong><\/td> novembre<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>noh-vehm-breh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December<\/strong><\/td> dicembre<\/em> <\/a>\n <\/td>dee-chem-breh<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Below, I\u2019ll tell you all about the national feasts and holidays<\/strong> that occur throughout the year in Italy. Learning cultural associations<\/strong> for each month can help you remember which is which.<\/p>\n

Gennaio<\/em> (January)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Winter<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0All of the Italian month names come from their Latin equivalents. Gennaio<\/em> comes from the Latin word for the first month of the year, Januarius<\/em>, which is based\u00a0on the Greek god Janus<\/p>\n

Capodanno<\/em>\u00a0(New Year\u2019s Day) is a major Italian holiday. On this day, Italians eat lentils and wear red underwear for good luck<\/a>. Throughout January, Italians greet each other with a spirited \u201cAuguri,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0which means \u201cbest wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Children across Italy also look forward to a visit from La Befana<\/em>\u00a0in January. According to Italian folklore, La Befana<\/a><\/em> is an old witch who visits all Italian children on the Eve of Epiphany (January 5). If the child has been good, they receive candy in their stocking. If they\u2019ve been bad, La Befana<\/em> leaves them coal.<\/p>\n

Febbraio<\/em> (February)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Winter\u00a0<\/p>\n

Origin: <\/strong>Febbraio<\/em> can be traced back to the Latin Februarius<\/em>\u00a0and the Roman festival Februa, which focused on purification.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carnevale<\/em>\u2014the national carnival festival that culminates with Marted\u00ec Grasso<\/em>\u00a0(Fat Tuesday<\/a>)\u2014is the highlight of February in Italy.<\/p>\n

Children dress up in costumes, and in Venice adults dress up in elaborate ball gowns and masks. Southern Italians eat rich lasagnas and chocolate pig\u2019s blood pudding<\/a> on Fat Tuesday before settling into the 40 days of Lent<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Marzo<\/em> (March)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Spring<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Marzo<\/em> is from the Latin Martius<\/em>, which is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMarzo \u00e8 pazzo!\u201d <\/em>(March is crazy), most Italians will eagerly tell you.<\/p>\n

The weather<\/a> is blustery, spring never seems to arrive and the Ides of March (March 15) marks the day Julius Caesar was assassinated.<\/p>\n

One bright spot is that seasonal produce\u2014including fava beans and wild asparagus\u2014arrives in the fresh open markets of Italian piazzas, revealing that spring is not so far away after all.<\/p>\n

Italians celebrate La Festa del Pap\u00e0<\/em>\u00a0(Father\u2019s Day<\/a>) on the Feast of Saint Joseph (March 19) with a special fritter called zeppole di San Giuseppe<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(Saint Joseph fritter).<\/p>\n

Aprile<\/em> (April)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Spring<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Aprile<\/em> is taken from the Latin Aprilis. <\/em>It might be related to the Latin word aperire<\/em> meaning to open\u2014like how flowers and trees blossom during this month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first day of April in Italy is called Pesce d\u2019aprile<\/em>\u00a0(April Fish<\/a>) and is similar to April Fool\u2019s Day. After telling a wild joke or fib, Italians then shout, \u201cPesce d\u2019aprile!\u201d <\/em>and present you with a plastic fish.<\/p>\n

The highlight of April for most Italians is Easter.<\/p>\n

Pasqua <\/em>(Easter) means a lot of eating in Italy. Traditionally, Italians eat ricotta salata<\/em> (sheep\u2019s milk ricotta) and roasted lamb for Easter. In Naples and on the Amalfi Coast, a special dessert known as pastiera<\/em>,<\/em> consisting of grain, ricotta, egg and citrus essence is a sign of fertility and new life.<\/p>\n

The day after Easter in Italy is the beloved Pasquetta<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(Easter Monday<\/a>), when the entire country takes to the countryside for grand multi-course picnics, whether rain or shine!<\/p>\n

Maggio<\/em> (May)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Spring<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Maggio<\/em> has its roots in the Latin word Maius<\/em>. This is named in honor of the earth goddess Maia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

May 1 in Italy is a national holiday called Festa dei lavoratori<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(Workers\u2019 Day<\/a>). Parades, demonstrations and free concerts occur across the country.<\/p>\n

By now, many will begin eating cozze<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(mussels) again. According to local beliefs, you can\u2019t eat mussels in months that have an r<\/em> in them. May, therefore, means more mussels.<\/p>\n

Giugno<\/em> (June)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Summer<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Giugno<\/em> comes from the Latin Junius<\/em>. This is thought to be named after either Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, or Lucius Brutus, the founder of the Roman Republic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By giugno<\/em> (June), Italian children are out of school and ready for estate <\/em>(summer). Thus begins the national obsession with going to the beach to enjoy a bagno<\/em>\u00a0(swim).<\/p>\n

Yet farmers might welcome rainy weather. A centuries-old proverb advises, \u201cgiugno tonante, raccolto abbondante\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(thundering June, abundant harvest).<\/p>\n

The summer solstice is on June 21, leading many Italians to call June the mese del sole <\/em>(month of the sun).<\/p>\n

Luglio<\/em> (July)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Summer<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Luglio<\/em> comes from the Latin\u00a0Julius. <\/em>It’s based on Julius Caesar, the famous Roman military general and politician, since he was born in July!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Italians say, \u201cse piove tra luglio e agosto, piove miele, olio e mosto\u201d <\/em>(if it rains between July and August, it rains honey, oil and wine must).<\/p>\n

Since it’s humid during this time across most of the Italian peninsula, many locals complain, \u201cfa caldissimo!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(it\u2019s so hot). The burst of July rains not only provides cool relief, but also improves the olive and grape harvests coming in the fall.<\/p>\n

Agosto<\/em> (August)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Summer\u00a0<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Agosto\u00a0<\/em>is based on the Latin\u00a0Agustus.\u00a0<\/em>This is named after another popular historical figure\u2014Augustus or Octavian, the first emperor of the Roman Empire.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The most important summer holiday in Italy is Ferragosto<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>on August 15.<\/p>\n

Settembre<\/em> (September)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Autumn<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Settembre<\/em> is named after the Latin September<\/em>. This comes from\u00a0septem<\/em>, meaning seven. In the ancient Roman calendar, the year started in March, making September the seventh month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

September brings the tomato harvest across most of Southern Italy. During this time, families can and preserve thousands of tomatoes to last the whole year.<\/p>\n

Children go back to school in mid-September, completing the national ritual of the rientro<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(return), which represents the end of summer.<\/p>\n

Ottobre<\/em> (October)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Autumn<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong> Ottobre <\/em>follows from the Latin word\u00a0October<\/em>, with\u00a0octo<\/em> meaning eight. Similar to\u00a0Settembre<\/em>, this is because October is the eighth month in the ancient Roman calendar.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many Italians retreat to the mountains in the month of October, where they forage for wild castagna<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(chestnuts) and funghi<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(mushroom).<\/p>\n

This is also the time of the vendemmia <\/em>(grape harvest).<\/p>\n

Novembre<\/em> (November)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Autumn<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Novembre<\/em> comes directly from the Latin\u00a0November<\/em>.\u00a0Novem<\/em> is the Latin word for nine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Festa dei morti<\/em>\u00a0(All Soul\u2019s Day<\/a>) is on November 2 in Italy. On this day, Italians visit the graves of deceased loved ones and light red votives to commemorate the dead.<\/p>\n

By November, autunno<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(fall) is in full swing. The Festa di San Martino<\/em>\u00a0(Feast of Saint Martin<\/a>) on November 11 is an exciting day, with vintners opening their first vini novelli<\/em>\u00a0(young wines) of the season.<\/p>\n

Dicembre<\/em> (December)<\/h3>\n

Season:<\/strong> Winter<\/p>\n

Origin:<\/strong>\u00a0Dicembre\u00a0<\/em>is taken from the Latin\u00a0December<\/em>, where decem<\/em> means ten.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And thus begins the merry season of Natale<\/em>\u00a0(Christmas).<\/p>\n

Families display intricate presepe<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(nativity cr\u00e8ches) and wait until midnight of December 24 to place Baby Jesus in his manger.<\/p>\n

December in Italy is also known for family time. And in Southern Italy, Italians celebrate the Vigilia <\/em>(Christmas Eve) with a feast of fish.<\/p>\n

How to Use Months in Italian\u00a0<\/h2>\n

Now that you know about the names of the months in Italian, let’s look at how they work in actual sentences:<\/p>\n

Gender<\/h3>\n

In Italian, all of the months (i mesi) <\/em>are<\/span><\/em> masculine.<\/p>\n

This means that when you\u2019re talking about months, you have to match them with masculine pronouns and adjectives:<\/p>\n

Ho amato <\/em>marzo<\/i><\/strong>; \u00e8 stato bellissimo.<\/em> (I loved March; it was beautiful.)<\/p>\n

Quest’anno abbiamo avuto un gennaio<\/strong> freddo.<\/em> (This year we had a cold January.)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Articles<\/h3>\n

While months in Italian are masculine, you\u2019ll notice that you usually don\u2019t have to add il<\/i> before the month. For example, you\u2019ll usually just say Gennaio <\/em>instead of Il Gennaio<\/em><\/p>\n

Sometimes you can add il<\/i>, though, for describing a specific date, such as il 15 marzo<\/em> (the 15th of March).<\/p>\n

Prepositions<\/h3>\n

One of the most common prepositions for months is a <\/em>(in\/on):<\/p>\n

A novembre<\/strong>, festeggiamo il suo compleanno.<\/em> (In November, we celebrate his\/her birthday.)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also in<\/em> (in), which means an event happens for the whole month:<\/p>\n

In giugno<\/strong>, iniziano le vacanze estive per gli studenti.<\/em> (In June, the summer holidays begin for students.)<\/p>\n

Other prepositions include da\u2026 a<\/em> (from\u2026 to) and entre<\/em> (by).<\/p>\n

Capitalization<\/h3>\n

Unlike in English, Italian months are considered common nouns, so they’re not capitalized. You’ll only capitalize them if they’re at the start of a sentence or in a title:<\/p>\n

Luglio<\/strong> e agosto<\/strong> sono i mesi pi\u00f9 caldi in Italia.<\/em> (July and August are the hottest months in Italy.)<\/p>\n

Abbreviations<\/h3>\n

Abbreviations for Italian months are pretty straightforward. Just take the first three letters of the month:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Italian Month<\/th>Abbreviation<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
gennaio<\/em><\/td>gen.<\/em><\/td>January<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
febbraio<\/em><\/td>feb.<\/em><\/td>February<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
marzo<\/em><\/td>mar.<\/em><\/td>March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
aprile<\/em><\/td>apr.<\/em><\/td>April<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
maggio<\/em><\/td>mag.<\/em><\/td>May<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
giugno<\/em><\/td>giu.<\/em><\/td>June<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
luglio<\/em><\/td>lug.<\/em><\/td>July<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
agosto<\/em><\/td>ago.<\/em><\/td>August<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
settembre<\/em><\/td>set.<\/em><\/td>September<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ottobre<\/em><\/td>ott.<\/em><\/td>October<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
novembre<\/em><\/td>nov.<\/em><\/td>November<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
dicembre<\/em><\/td>dic.<\/em><\/td>December<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Example Sentences with Italian Months<\/h2>\n

To get the hang of it, check out these example sentences that cover each month in Italian:\u00a0<\/p>\n

The popular Festa di San Francesco d\u2019Assisi<\/em>\u00a0(Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi<\/a>) is celebrated on October 4, with many pilgrims flocking to the Basilica of Assisi<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On this Catholic holiday, Italians celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary<\/a>. This means big family meals and fireworks. Nearly the entire country flocks to the beach in August, and most local businesses in major urban centers close.<\/p>\n