Months And Dates In Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide [2025]

If you’re learning Spanish, one of the first practical topics you’ll need to master is how to talk about months and dates. Whether planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country, filling out forms, or simply expanding your vocabulary, knowing how to express dates in Spanish is essential.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about months and dates in Spanish, including their proper pronunciation, cultural significance, and how to use them correctly in both written and spoken Spanish.

What Are The Months In Spanish?

Learning the months in Spanish is one of the fundamental steps in mastering the language. The good news is that Spanish months share similarities with their English counterparts due to their common Latin rootsMen’s, which makes them relatively easy to remember.

Enero (January)

Enero comes from the Latin word "Ianuarius," named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. With his two faces, Janus could look to both the past and the future, making him the perfect symbol for the start of a new year. In Spanish-speaking countries, enero marks the continuation of holiday celebrations with Día de Reyes (Epiphany/Three Kings Day) on 6 January, when children traditionally receive gifts, commemorating the Three Wise Men’s visit to baby Jesus.

Febrero (February)

Febrero derives from "Februare," referring to the Roman festival of purification called "Februa." This month, many Spanish-speaking countries celebrate Carnaval, a festive season occurring before Lent. Carnaval celebrations in places like Cádiz (Spain) and Barranquilla (Colombia) are world-famous for their colorful parades, music, dancing, and elaborate costumes.

Marzo (March)

Marzo is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. In ancient Rome, marzo was actually the first month of the year, as it marked the beginning of the military campaign season. In Spanish-speaking countries today, marzo often features the beginning of spring festivals. In many places, it's also when Semana Santa (Holy Week) preparations begin, though the actual celebration sometimes falls in abril.

Abril (April)

Abril possibly comes from the Latin "aperire" meaning "to open," referring to the opening of flowers and buds in spring. Some scholars also believe it may be related to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. In Spanish-speaking countries, abril is often associated with Semana Santa celebrations, especially the dramatic processions of Holy Week throughout Spain and Latin America.

Mayo (May)

Mayo is named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and nurturing. This month is significant in Spanish-speaking countries for several celebrations. Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) commemorates Mexico’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Additionally, most Spanish-speaking countries celebrate Mother's Day (Día de la Madre) in mayo, though the exact date varies by country.

Junio (June)

Junio is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth. In modern Spanish-speaking countries, junio is recognized as Pride month (Mes del Orgullo), celebrating LGBTQ+ rights and culture. Due to favorable weather, June is also a popular month for weddings in many regions. In Spain, the Noche de San Juan (Night of Saint John) on 23 June features bonfires and celebrations marking the summer solstice.

Julio (July)

Julio was renamed from its original Latin "Quintilis" (fifth month) to honor Julius Caesar after his death. He was born in this month and reformed the Roman calendar. In Spanish-speaking countries, julio is known for summer festivities. The most famous is perhaps the running of the bulls (encierro) during the Festival of San Fermín in Pamplona, Spain, held from July 7-14, where participants run in front of bulls through the streets.

Agosto (August)

Agosto was originally called "Sextilis" (sixth month) in the Roman calendar but was renamed to honor Emperor Augustus. In Spanish-speaking countries, August is typically vacation month, especially in Spain, where many businesses close as people take their summer holidays. The Assumption of Mary (Asunción de la Virgen) on August 15 is a national holiday in several Spanish-speaking countries, marked with processions and feasts.

Septiembre (September)

Septiembre derives from "septem," the Latin word for seven, as it was the seventh month in the original Roman calendar. This is a patriotic month in many Latin American countries, with numerous independence celebrations: Mexico (16 September), Chile (18 September), and Central American countries like Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (15 September). These holidays are marked with parades, music, and special foods.

Octubre (October)

Octubre comes from "octo," meaning eight in Latin. This month is when Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15- October 15) concludes in the United States, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic Americans. In Spain and parts of Latin America, Día de la Hispanidad or Día de la Raza is celebrated on 12 October, commemorating Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. However, the perspective on this holiday varies greatly across different countries.

Noviembre (November)

Noviembre comes from "novem," Latin for nine. This month is culturally significant in many Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Mexico, with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1-2. This profound celebration honors deceased loved ones with colorful altars (ofrendas), special foods like pan de muerto (bread of the dead), and visits to cemeteries where families clean graves and decorate them with marigolds.

Diciembre (December)

Diciembre derives from "decem," Latin for ten. This month is filled with holiday celebrations across the Spanish-speaking world. Las Posadas (December 16-24) in Mexico and Central America recreates Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging. Nochebuena (Christmas Eve) on 24 December is often more significant than Christmas Day itself, featuring family gatherings and special meals. The season culminates with Nochevieja (New Year’s Eve) celebrations on 31 December.

Grammar Rules for Spanish Months

Understanding how to use Spanish months correctly requires knowing a few key grammar rules. For instance, months are not capitalized in Spanish unless they begin a sentence or appear in a title. Additionally, all months in Spanish are masculine nouns, affecting which articles and adjectives you use.

Using Prepositions with Months:

• en = in (a specific month)
  • Voy a México en agosto. (I'm going to Mexico in August.)
• de = of/from (used in dates)
  • El 5 de junio (The 5th of June)

Adjective Forms: Three months have special adjective forms:

• abril → abrileño (pertaining to April)
• marzo → marzal (pertaining to March)
• agosto → agosteño (pertaining to August)

Example: Las lluvias abrileñas (The April rains)

What Are The Dates In Spanish?

Now that we know the months, let’s learn how to express complete dates in Spanish.

Like months, days of the week are not capitalized in Spanish. Also note that in Spanish-speaking countries, the week typically starts on Monday, not Sunday.

Format for Writing Dates in Spanish

The standard format for dates in Spanish is day + month + year. This is different from the American English format (month + day + year) but similar to British English.

(el) + [day number] + de + [month] + de + [year]

Examples:

• El 15 de mayo de 2025 (May 15, 2025)
• 4 de julio de 2025 (July 4, 2025)

To format a date in Spanish, always put the day before the month in Spanish. Also, don't forget to use cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) for dates.The only exception is the first day of the month, which can be expressed as "primero" (first):

• El 25 de diciembre (December 25th)
• El primero de enero or El 1 de enero (January 1st)

See the word Spanish preposition there? Always use the "de" (of) preposition between the day and month, and between the month and year.

When writing dates using only numbers, Spanish follows the day/month/year format: 15/05/2025 (May 15, 2025). This is the opposite of the American format (MM/DD/YYYY) but matches the format used in most countries worldwide.

Spanish Calendar

The Spanish calendar week begins on Monday (lunes) rather than Sunday, which is common in the United States. This is typical across most of Europe and reflects the work week structure. The calendar follows a standard monthly format with the same number of days per month as the English calendar.

Here's how a typical Spanish calendar is structured:

1. Week Layout: Monday to Sunday (lunes a domingo)
2. First Day: Monday (lunes) is considered the first day of the week
3. Weekend: Saturday and Sunday (sábado y domingo)
4. Month Format: Each month has the same number of days as in English calendars
5. Date Writing Format: Day/Month/Year (DD/MM/YYYY)

Here's a table of some of the most popular Spanish festivals and events organized by month:

These festivals provide an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and practice your language skills in authentic settings. Many Spanish learners time their visits to Spanish-speaking countries to coincide with these celebrations.

Calendar Terminology In Spanish

Here are some useful calendar-related terms in Spanish:

• El calendario = The calendar
• La semana = The week
• El fin de semana = The weekend
• El día festivo/feriado = Holiday
• El día laborable = Workday
• La quincena = Fortnight (15-day period)
• El trimestre = Quarter (3-month period)
• El semestre = Semester (6-month period)
• El año = Year
• El año bisiesto = Leap year
• La fecha = Date
• La temporada = Season

Learn Spanish With Lingopie

As you continue your Spanish language journey, consider using this knowledge as a jumping-off point to explore more vocabulary related to time, scheduling, and planning. This will help you develop more fluency in practical, everyday Spanish.

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