Months of the Year
Italian months are masculine nouns, written in lowercase, and usually preceded by the prepositions a or in.
How It Works
In Italian, the months of the year (i mesi dell'anno) are essential for dating and scheduling. Here are the key rules to become proficient in using them:
- Gender and Number: All months are masculine nouns. They are invariable, meaning they do not change their form in the plural.
- Lowercase: Months are common nouns and are not capitalized (e.g., aprile, not Aprile).
- Prepositions for 'In': To say 'in [month]', use a or in. These are interchangeable. Before months starting with a (aprile, agosto), a often becomes ad (e.g., ad agosto).
- The 'Mese di' Construction: You can also refer to months using the phrase il mese di... (e.g., il mese di maggio).
- Stating Dates: To express a specific date, use the definite article il + cardinal number + month (e.g., il 20 settembre). Italian does not use a preposition for 'on' before dates.
- The First of the Month: For the first day only, use the ordinal number il primo (e.g., il primo marzo). For all other days, use cardinal numbers (2, 3, 4...).
- Time Ranges: To express 'from... to...', use the construction da... a... (e.g., da gennaio a marzo).
- Articles: Generally, months do not take an article. However, an article is often used if the month is followed by a specific year (using nel) or an adjective (e.g., un freddo gennaio).
Examples (6)
- Oggi è il <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">primo marzo</grammar>.
Today is the first of March.
Word by Word: Today is the first March.
For the first day of the month, Italian uses the ordinal number 'primo' instead of the cardinal 'uno'.
- Vado in vacanza <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">ad agosto</grammar>.
I am going on vacation in August.
Word by Word: I go in vacation at August.
The 'euphonic d' (ad) is commonly used when the preposition 'a' is followed by a word starting with the same vowel 'a'.
- Il <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">mese di maggio</grammar> è bellissimo.
The month of May is very beautiful.
Word by Word: The month of May is very beautiful.
You can refer to a month using the construction 'il mese di' followed by the name of the month.
- È stato un <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">freddo gennaio</grammar>.
It was a cold January.
Word by Word: It is been a cold January.
While months usually don't take an article, one is required when the month is modified by an adjective.
- Lavoro <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">da gennaio a marzo</grammar>.
I work from January to March.
Word by Word: I work from January to March.
The prepositions 'da... a...' are used to show a range of time between months.
- Siamo nati <grammar expression="mesi dell'anno">nel novembre</grammar> del 1995.
We were born in November 1995.
Word by Word: We are born in the November of the 1995.
An articulated preposition (in + il = nel) is used here because the month is specified by a year.
Common Mistakes
Capitalizing the first letter of the month.
Il mio mese preferito è Ottobre.Il mio mese preferito è ottobre.In Italian, months are common nouns and should not be capitalized unless they start a sentence.
Using 'uno' for the first day of the month.
Oggi è l'uno aprile.Oggi è il primo aprile.While cardinal numbers are used for all other days (il due, il tre...), the first of the month always uses the ordinal number 'primo'.
Using an article when it's not needed.
Vado a Roma in il gennaio.Vado a Roma a gennaio.Unless the month is modified by a year or adjective, do not use a definite article with the preposition.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand how to use the months of the year, a learner needs to know basic prepositions for time expressions and how prepositions combine with articles (articulated prepositions) and undergo elision.
- Articulated (Contracted) Prepositions
The title of the pattern itself ('dell'anno') uses a contracted preposition (di + l'), which is necessary to understand the structure of the phrase.
Level 1 - Elision
Understanding elision is necessary to explain why 'dello' becomes 'dell'' before 'anno' and why certain months might interact with articles or prepositions.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Days of the Week
Both are time expressions, but days of the week use articles differently to show habituality.
Level 1 - Simple Prepositions
Simple prepositions like 'a' and 'in' are the primary way to link months to sentences.
Level 1 - Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are used specifically for the first day of every month (il primo).
Level 1 - Articulated Prepositions in Time Expressions
Explains how prepositions combine with articles when a month is specified by a year (e.g., 'nel 1990').
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice Months of the Year in Bubblegum
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