Understanding the days of the week and months of the year is fundamental for planning, scheduling, and discussing events in any language. In French, these words are essential for everything from making appointments to discussing holidays and cultural events. As part of the foundational vocabulary in our French curriculum, mastering the calendar terms is key to building practical communication skills and truly understanding everyday French interactions. This guide will introduce you to the French days and months, along with tips on how to use them correctly.

French Weekdays (Les Jours de la Semaine)

The French week traditionally starts on Monday. Unlike in English, the days of the week are not capitalized unless they are the first word of a sentence.

• Lundi (Monday)
• Mardi (Tuesday)
• Mercredi (Wednesday)
• Jeudi (Thursday)
• Vendredi (Friday)
• Samedi (Saturday)
• Dimanche (Sunday)

Using Weekdays in Sentences

• To refer to a specific day, you just use the day name:
  • Je travaille lundi. (I work on Monday.)
  • Elle arrive mercredi. (She arrives on Wednesday.)
• To refer to something that happens regularly on a certain day (e.g., "every Monday" or "on Mondays"), you use the definite article `le` before the day name:
  • Je vais à la gym le lundi. (I go to the gym on Mondays.)
  • Le magasin est fermé le dimanche. (The shop is closed on Sundays.)

Notice that there is no direct equivalent of "on" used before the day names in French phrases like "on Monday".

French Months (Les Mois de l'Année)

Similar to weekdays, months in French are not capitalized unless they start a sentence.

• Janvier (January)
• Février (February)
• Mars (March)
• Avril (April)
• Mai (May)
• Juin (June)
• Juillet (July)
• Août (August)
• Septembre (September)
• Octobre (October)
• Novembre (November)
• Décembre (December)

Using Months in Sentences

• To say "in [month]", you generally use the preposition `en`:
  • Mon anniversaire est en juillet. (My birthday is in July.)
  • Il fait froid en décembre. (It is cold in December.)
• To talk about a specific date, you use `le` + [number] + [month]:
  • La fête est le 14 juillet. (The party is on July 14th.)
  • Ils partent le 3 août. (They leave on August 3rd.)

  Note that for the 1st of the month, you use `le premier`: le premier janvier (January 1st).

Combining Days and Months

To specify a date including both the day and the month, the structure is `le` + [number] + [month] + [year] (optional), often preceded by the day of the week.

• C'est le lundi 6 mai. (It is Monday, May 6th.)
• La réunion est le mardi 15 octobre 2024. (The meeting is on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024.)

Using these terms confidently in context is a skill honed through the speaking-focused French lessons offered at Sprachlingua.

Key Takeaways & Tips for Weekdays and Months

• French days and months are NOT capitalized unless at the start of a sentence.
• The French week starts on Monday (`Lundi`).
• Use the day name alone for "on [day]": `Jeudi`.
• Use `le` + [day name] for "on [days]" (habitual action): `le jeudi`.
• Use `en` + [month name] for "in [month]": `en mars`.
• Use `le` + [number] + [month name] for specific dates: `le 25 décembre`. Remember `le premier` for the 1st.
• Practice saying dates important to you (birthday, holidays) in French.
• Whether you're looking for French online classes in Chennai or learning globally, our online learning platform provides the tools and practice you need.

Conclusion: Mastering the French Calendar

Learning the days of the week and months of the year in French unlocks a significant amount of communicative potential. These terms are fundamental for discussing plans, recounting past events, and navigating French culture's many holidays and seasonal activities. While simple, consistent review and practice are key to embedding this vocabulary firmly in your memory.

Ready to build your French vocabulary further? Explore other essential A1 topics like essential A1 vocabulary, numbers and telling time, or French greetings.

Discover why Sprachlingua is a leading choice for online French learning, helping you build confidence in practical, everyday communication.

Bon courage avec votre apprentissage du français ! (Good luck with your French learning!)