Months & Seasons (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Months & Seasons
Learning to express dates, months, and seasons is fundamental for everyday German conversation. This topic covers the essential vocabulary and grammar patterns you need to talk about when things happen throughout the year.
Mastering time expressions in German is crucial for daily communication. You'll use these patterns constantly when making appointments, discussing events, planning activities, and talking about the weather.
The twelve months
Understanding the German months is crucial for making appointments, discussing events, and talking about the weather. Notice how some months are similar to English whilst others are quite different.
| German | English | Pronunciation tip |
|---|---|---|
| Januar | January | YAH-noo-ahr |
| Februar | February | FEB-roo-ahr |
| März | March | MAIRTS |
| April | April | ah-PREEL |
| Mai | May | MY |
| Juni | June | YOO-nee |
| Juli | July | YOO-lee |
| August | August | ow-GOOST |
| September | September | zep-TEM-ber |
| Oktober | October | ok-TOH-ber |
| November | November | no-VEM-ber |
| Dezember | December | deh-TSEM-ber |
Practice with Month Usage:
- Aschenputtel hat im Januar Geburtstag. (Cinderella has her birthday in January.)
- Im Februar feiert man Karneval. (In February, people celebrate carnival.)
- Die Schule beginnt im September. (School begins in September.)
Notice how each sentence uses "im" + month name.
Using prepositions with months
When you want to say that something happens "in" a particular month, German uses the preposition im (which is a contraction of "in + dem"). This pattern is consistent for all months.
Essential Formula: im + month name
This contraction never changes regardless of which month you're talking about!
Examples:
- Im März feiern wir Ostern. (In March we celebrate Easter.)
- Im Dezember gibt es Weihnachtsmärkte. (In December there are Christmas markets.)
- Viele Schüler fahren im Sommer nach Bayern. (Many students travel to Bavaria in summer.)
Expressing specific dates
To talk about specific dates, German uses ordinal numbers with the preposition am (which means "on the"). You'll need to learn ordinal numbers to express dates accurately.
| Ordinal number | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | am ersten | on the first |
| 2nd | am zweiten | on the second |
| 3rd | am dritten | on the third |
| 4th | am vierten | on the fourth |
| 14th | am vierzehnten | on the fourteenth |
| 31st | am einunddreißigsten | on the thirty-first |
Essential Formula: am + ordinal number + month
Remember: Use "am" for specific dates, "im" for months and seasons.
Worked Example: Expressing Birthdays
- Pimpel hat am 14. Februar Geburtstag. (Pimpel has his birthday on the 14th of February.)
- Am ersten Januar beginnt das neue Jahr. (On the first of January the new year begins.)
- Am vierten Juli feiert man in Amerika den Unabhängigkeitstag. (On the fourth of July, Americans celebrate Independence Day.)
The four seasons
Each season has its own character and associated activities. Learning these terms helps you discuss weather, holidays, and seasonal activities.
| German | English | Months included |
|---|---|---|
| der Winter | winter | Dezember, Januar, Februar |
| das Frühjahr/der Frühling | spring | März, April, Mai |
| der Sommer | summer | Juni, Juli, August |
| der Herbst | autumn/fall | September, Oktober, November |
German has two common words for spring: "das Frühjahr" and "der Frühling" - both are correct and widely used. You'll hear both in everyday conversation.
Using prepositions with seasons
Just like with months, German uses im to express that something happens during a particular season.
Essential Formula: im + season name
The same "im" rule applies to both months and seasons!
Examples:
- Im Winter fahren viele Menschen gerne Ski. (In winter, many people like to go skiing.)
- Im Frühling blühen die Blumen. (In spring, the flowers bloom.)
- Die Brüder Wolf reisen im Sommer nach England. (The Wolf brothers travel to England in summer.)
- Im Herbst sind die Bäume wunderschön. (In autumn, the trees are beautiful.)
Important festivals and cultural events
Understanding when major German festivals occur helps you engage with German culture and provides useful conversation topics.
German Cultural Calendar
These festivals are deeply embedded in German culture and provide excellent opportunities for cultural conversations and understanding German traditions.
| Event | Month/Season | German description |
|---|---|---|
| Karneval/Fasching | Februar | carnival celebrations |
| Ostern | März/April | Easter |
| Tag der Arbeit | Mai (1st) | Labour Day |
| Oktoberfest | September/Oktober | beer festival in Munich |
| Tag der deutschen Einheit | Oktober (3rd) | German Unity Day |
| Nikolaustag | Dezember (6th) | St. Nicholas Day |
| Weihnachten | Dezember (24th-26th) | Christmas |
| Silvester | Dezember (31st) | New Year's Eve |
Example dialogue
Practical Conversation: Asking About Birthdays
Anna: Wann hast du Geburtstag? (When is your birthday?)
Ben: Ich habe am fünften Juli Geburtstag. Das ist im Sommer. Und du? (My birthday is on the fifth of July. That's in summer. And you?)
Anna: Am zwanzigsten Dezember. Kurz vor Weihnachten! (On the twentieth of December. Just before Christmas!)
Ben: Im Winter! Dann kannst du Ski fahren an deinem Geburtstag. (In winter! Then you can go skiing on your birthday.)
Common mistakes & tips
Mistake 1: Using "in" instead of "im"
- ❌ In Januar ist es kalt.
- ✅ Im Januar ist es kalt.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the ordinal ending on dates
- ❌ Am vier Juli
- ✅ Am vierten Juli
Mistake 3: Confusing "am" (for dates) with "im" (for months/seasons)
- ❌ Am Juli fahren wir in Urlaub.
- ✅ Im Juli fahren wir in Urlaub.
Memory Tip: Remember that "im" contracts "in dem" and is used for time periods (months, seasons), while "am" contracts "an dem" and is used for specific points in time (dates).
Key Points to Remember:
- Use im + month name to say when something happens in a particular month
- Use im + season name to say when something happens in a particular season
- Use am + ordinal number for specific dates
- German has two words for spring: das Frühjahr and der Frühling
- Learning key German festivals helps with cultural understanding and conversation
- Never confuse "am" and "im" - they have different uses for different time expressions