The 12 Months of the Year in Portuguese
Portuguese, like English and many other languages, divides the year into twelve months. The names are quite similar to their English counterparts, which makes them easier to learn and remember. Here’s a list of the months in Portuguese with their English translations:
- Janeiro – January
- Fevereiro – February
- Março – March
- Abril – April
- Maio – May
- Junho – June
- Julho – July
- Agosto – August
- Setembro – September
- Outubro – October
- Novembro – November
- Dezembro – December
Pronunciation Tips for Portuguese Months
Pronouncing the months correctly is important for clear communication. Portuguese vowels and consonants may sound different from what you’re used to in English. Here are some helpful tips:
- Janeiro: Pronounced as “zhah-NAY-roo”
- Fevereiro: Pronounced as “feh-veh-RAY-roo”
- Março: Pronounced as “MAR-soo”
- Abril: Pronounced as “ah-BREEL”
- Maio: Pronounced as “MY-oo”
- Junho: Pronounced as “ZHOON-yoo”
- Julho: Pronounced as “ZHOO-lyoo”
- Agosto: Pronounced as “ah-GOHS-too”
- Setembro: Pronounced as “seh-TEM-broo”
- Outubro: Pronounced as “ow-TOO-broo”
- Novembro: Pronounced as “noh-VEM-broo”
- Dezembro: Pronounced as “deh-ZEM-broo”
Capitalization and Usage
Unlike English, in Portuguese the names of the months are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. For example, you would write “abril” instead of “Abril” when mentioning the month in the middle of a sentence. This is a common rule in Portuguese grammar and applies to days of the week as well.
How to Use Months in Sentences
When talking about dates in Portuguese, the month typically comes after the day. For example:
- Hoje é 15 de março. (Today is March 15th.)
- Meu aniversário é em julho. (My birthday is in July.)
- O evento será em dezembro. (The event will be in December.)
Notice the use of the preposition “em” (in) before the month.
Fun Ways to Memorize the Months in Portuguese
Here are some creative techniques to help you remember the months:
- Associate each month with a special event or holiday in a Portuguese-speaking country.
- Create flashcards with the month on one side and the English translation on the other.
- Practice using the months in sentences about your own life, such as birthdays and travel plans.
- Listen to Portuguese songs or watch shows that mention dates and months.
Cultural Insights: Holidays and Seasons
Understanding the months also helps you connect with Portuguese-speaking cultures. For example, Carnival in Brazil usually takes place in fevereiro (February), and Christmas is celebrated in dezembro (December) just like in many other countries. However, remember that seasons are opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, so junho (June) marks the beginning of winter in Brazil.
Conclusion
Mastering the months of the year in Portuguese is an important step in your language learning journey. With practice, you’ll soon find it easy to talk about dates, make plans, and understand more about Portuguese-speaking cultures. For more tips and resources on learning Portuguese, visit the Talkpal AI language learning blog and keep advancing your skills with fun and interactive lessons!
