German Months and Seasons: Vocabulary and Prepositions
Learn how to talk about months, seasons, and times of the year in German with key vocabulary, grammar rules, and prepositions. This guide is perfect for beginners and intermediate learners who want to sound natural when talking about dates, birthdays, and seasonal activities in German.
📆 German Months – Die Monate auf Deutsch
Here’s a complete list of the 12 months in German, with their English equivalents:
German | English |
|---|---|
Januar | January |
Februar | February |
März | March |
April | April |
Mai | May |
Juni | June |
Juli | July |
August | August |
September | September |
Oktober | October |
November | November |
Dezember | December |
How to Say "In January" in German
Use the preposition "im" (short for in dem) before the month:
Ich habe im Juli Geburtstag. (My birthday is in July.)
Wir reisen im Dezember nach Deutschland. (We travel to Germany in December.)
Do Months Have Articles in German?
Yes, but they're rarely used in everyday speech. All months in German are masculine and use the article "der" when needed, typically in formal writing, poetry, or emphasis.
In everyday conversation the article for month is usually dropped.
Examples:
Der Januar war sehr kalt. (January was very cold.)
Ich erinnere mich gut an den April. (I remember April well.)
In everyday conversation we usually drop the article:
Ich habe im März Geburtstag. (I have a birthday in March.)
🌸 The Four Seasons in German – Die Jahreszeiten
German | English |
|---|---|
der Frühling | spring |
der Sommer | summer |
der Herbst | autumn / fall |
der Winter | winter |
Talking About Seasons in German
Use "im" with all seasons:
Im Frühling wachsen die Blumen. (In spring flowers grow.)
Im Winter ist es kalt. (In winter it is cold.)
📅 Useful Time Phrases in German
Learn how to describe time frames throughout the year:
Phrase (German) | Meaning (English) |
|---|---|
am Anfang des Jahres | at the beginning of the year |
Mitte Juli | mid-July |
Ende Oktober | end of October |
dieses Jahr | this year |
nächstes Jahr | next year |
letztes Jahr | last year |
Examples:
Ich bin letztes Jahr umgezogen. (I moved last year.)
Ende August machen wir Urlaub. (We go on vacation at the end of August.)
👉 German Prepositions for Time – Übersicht der Zeitpräpositionen
Here’s a quick guide to essential German prepositions for months and seasons:
Preposition | Use With | Translation |
|---|---|---|
im | months, seasons, years | in |
am | days, dates | on |
seit | since a past time | since |
von…bis | time spans | from…to |
Examples:
Ich lerne seit März Deutsch. (I’ve been learning German since March.)
Von Mai bis Juli haben wir frei. (We’re off from May to July.)
am Fritag – on Friday
seit gestern – since yesterday
von September bis November – from September to November
Find out more about days of week in German and useful prepositions.
📖 German Story – Mein Jahr (My Year)
German | English |
|---|---|
Im Januar ist es sehr kalt. Ich trinke viel Tee und bleibe zu Hause. | In January it is very cold. I drink a lot of tea and stay at home. |
Im Februar habe ich Geburtstag. Ich feiere mit meiner Familie. | In February I have my birthday. I celebrate with my family. |
Im Frühling im März und April, scheint die Sonne oft. Ich gehe gerne spazieren. | In spring in March and April, the sun often shines. I like to go for walks. |
Im Mai blühen die Blumen. Ich arbeite im Garten. | In May the flowers bloom. I work in the garden. |
Im Juni und Juli ist Sommer. Ich fahre mit meinen Freunden ans Meer. | In June and July it’s summer. I go to the seaside with my friends. |
Im August mache ich Urlaub. Ich reise nach Italien. | In August I go on vacation. I travel to Italy. |
Im Herbst im September und Oktober, ist das Wetter windig. Ich trage eine Jacke. | In autumn in September and October, the weather is windy. I wear a jacket. |
Im November regnet es viel. Ich lese Bücher. | In November it rains a lot. I read books. |
Im Dezember ist Winter. Ich liebe Weihnachten und Schnee. | In December it is winter. I love Christmas and snow. |
German Time Expressions Practice – Übung
Translate into German:
We always go hiking in October.
My birthday is in the summer.
I’ve been learning German since January.
At the beginning of the year, I was very motivated.
Answers:
Wir gehen immer im Oktober wandern.
Mein Geburtstag ist im Sommer.
Ich lerne seit Januar Deutsch.
Am Anfang des Jahres war ich sehr motiviert.
Tips for Learning Months and Times of Year in German
Practice with flashcards to memorize months and seasons.
Use a German calendar and mark key events.
Repeat common time expressions aloud.
Pair months with weather or holidays to build context.
By mastering the months in German, seasons vocabulary and prepositions like "im," "am," and "seit" you’ll be able to talk confidently about time and dates. Whether you're discussing plans, birthdays or the weather, this is essential vocabulary for everyday German.