While many Slavic languages officially use Latin-derived names for the months of the year in the Gregorian calendar, there is also a set of older names for the twelve months that differs from the Latin month names, as they are of Slavic origin. In some languages, such as the Serbian language these traditional names have since been archaized and are thus seldom used.

The original names of the months of the year in the Slavic languages closely follow natural occurrences such as weather patterns and conditions common for that period, as well as agricultural activities.

Many months have several alternative names in different regions; conversely, a single "Slavic name" may correspond to different "Roman names" (for different months, usually following each other) in different languages.

Comparison table

The Slavic names of the months have been preserved by a number of Slavic people in a variety of languages. The conventional month names in some of these languages are mixed, including names which show the influence of the Germanic calendar (particularly Slovene, Sorbian, and Polabian)[1] or names which are borrowed from the Gregorian calendar (particularly Polish and Kashubian), but they have been included here nonetheless.

In Latvian and Lithuanian, the Baltic names of the months are preserved, which partially coincide with the Slavic ones, which suggests that some of these names may date back to the time of Balto-Slavic linguistic unity. Latvian and Lithuanian names are also shown in this table for comparison.

Words are colored according to etymology.

More information Language, January ...
Comparison of the traditional names for the twelve months in different Slavic languages[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Language January February March April May June July August September October November December
Belarusian
студзень
studzen′

люты
ljuty
сакавік
sakavik
красавік
krasavik
май*
maj*
чэрвень
čèrven′
ліпень
lipen′
жнівень
žniven′
верасень
verasen′
кастрычнік
kastryčnik
лістапад
listapad
снежань
snežan′
травень
traven′
Ukrainian січень
sičeń
лютий
ljutyj
березень
berezen′
квітень
kviten′
червень
červen′
липень
lypen′
серпень
serpen′
вересень
veresen′
жовтень
žovten′
листопад
lystopad
грудень
hruden′
лютень
ljuten’
Rusyn лютый
ljutyj
цвітень
cviten′
жолтень
žolten′
Russian[a]
archaic
сечень
sečenʹ
лютень
ljutenʹ
березозол
berezozol
цветень
(цвѣтень​)
cvetenʹ
липец
(липецъ​)
lipec
листопад
(листопадъ)
listopad
грудень
grudenʹ
студень
studenʹ
Old East Slavic стоудѣнь
studěnʹ
снежѣнь
snežěnʹ
соухїй
suhij
берѣзолъ
berězolŭ
травѣнь
travěnʹ
чѣрвѣнь
čěrvěnʹ
липѣнь
lipenʹ
сѣрпѣнь
sěrpěnʹ
версѣнь
versěnʹ
осень
osenʹ
листопадъ
listopadŭ
гроудѣнь
gruděnʹ
Old Church Slavonic просиньць
prosinĭcĭ
сѣчьнъ
sěčĭnŭ
соухъ
suhŭ
брѣзьнъ
brězĭnŭ
трѣвьнъ
trěvĭnŭ
изокъ
izokŭ
чръвлѥнꙑи
črŭvljenyi
заревъ
zarevŭ
роуинъ
ruinŭ
листопадъ
listopadŭ
гроудьнъ
grudĭnŭ
стоуденъ
studenŭ
Bulgarian
archaic
сечен
sečen
люти
ljuti
сухи
suhi
брезен
brezen
тревен
treven
изок
izok
червен
červen
зарев
zarev
руен
ruen
листопад
listopad
груден
gruden
просинец
prosinec
Macedonian
archaic
коложег
koložeg
сечко
sečko
цутар
cutar
тревен
treven
косар
kosar
жетвар
žetvar
златец
zlatec
житар
žitar
гроздобер
grozdober
студен
studen
снежник
snežnik
Serbian
archaic
дерикожа
derikoža
лажитрава
lažitrava
цветањ
cvetanj
трешњар
trešnjar
жетвар
žetvar
гумник
gumnik
коледар*
koledar*
Croatian siječanj veljača ožujak travanj svibanj lipanj srpanj kolovoz rujan studeni prosinac
Slovene
archaic
prosinec svečan sušec mali traven veliki traven rožnik mali srpan veliki srpan kimavec vinotok listopad gruden
Slovak
archaic
veľký sečeň malý sečeň brezen
(brezeň)
duben
(dubeň)
květen
(kveteň)
lipen
(lipeň)
klasen
(klaseň)
srpen
(srpeň)
malý rujen veľký rujen mrazen
(mrazeň)
ľadeň sečeň
Czech leden únor březen červen červenec září říjen prosinec
Polish styczeń luty marzec* kwiecień maj* czerwiec lipiec sierpień wrzesień październik grudzień
brzezień (archaic) trawień (archaic)
łżykwiat (archaic)
Kashubian stëcznik gromicznik strëmiannik łżëkwiat môj* czerwińc lëpińc zélnik séwnik rujan lëstopadnik gòdnik
luti kwiecéń miodownik serzpiéń wrzeseń pazdzérznik grëdzéń
Lower Sorbian
archaic
wezymski swěckowny pózymski jatšownik rozhelony smažki žnjojski jacmjeński požnjenc winski młośny zymski
Upper Sorbian
archaic
wulki róžk mały róžk nalětnik jutrownik róžownik smažnik pražnik žnjenc winowc nazymnik hodownik
Polabian
extinct
ledemån rüzac zürmån chåidemån laisemån pąťustemån zeminik haimån jisinmån vaińamån zaimamån trübnemån
Lithuanian
non-Slavic
sausis vasaris kovas balandis gegužė birželis liepa rugpjūtis rugsėjis spalis lapkritis gruodis
Latvian
archaic, non-Slavic
ziemas sveču sērsnu sulu lapu ziedu liepu rudzu viršu
(silu)
veļu salnas vilku
Close

* word of non-Slavic or non-Baltic origin

Croatian months

The Croatian months used with the Gregorian calendar by Croats differ from the original Latin month names. While subject to variation over the earlier centuries, their names and order have been standardised in 1830s through the efforts of the Illyrian movement and its chief linguist Vjekoslav Babukić.[12]

More information No., Latin name ...
No.Latin nameEnglish nameCroatian nameEtymology
1IanuariusJanuarysijȇčanj from cutting or hewing wood[13] but there are also dialectal terms svečan, svičen, sičan that have a meaning 'festive', so there is a possibility of a meaning 'festive month' (as there are several holidays celebrated in January)[14]
2FebruariusFebruaryvèljača month in which days become longer, oveljiti se = to get bigger;[15] or to wallow, to roll valjati, to indicate unstable weather[16]
3MartiusMarchòžujak lying month (laž>ož; laž = a lie), because the weather is changing often[17][18]
4AprilisApriltrȃvanj from growing grass, trava[19]
5MaiusMaysvȋbanj from budding Cornel tree svib[20]
6IuniusJunelȋpanj from linden tree, lipa[21]
7IuliusJulysȓpanj from reaping with a sickle, srp[22]
8AugustusAugustkȍlovōz from driving a wagon (for harvest) — wheel kolo + drive voz[23]
9SeptemberSeptemberrȗjan from an archaic verb for deer roaring[24] or from a poetic word for blushing, rosy[25]
10OctoberOctoberlȉstopād from falling leaves — leaf list + fall padati[26]
11NovemberNovemberstùdenī from cold, studen[27]
12DecemberDecemberpròsinac the beginning of the Sun's shining, to dawn sinuti;[28] or from sinji, greyish blue color[29]
Close

Czech months

The names of Czech months are, as in Belarusian, Croatian, Kashubian, Polish, and Ukrainian, not based on the Latin names used in most European languages. The suffix -en is added to most of the months' names.

More information No., Latin name ...
No.Latin nameEnglish nameCzech nameEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryledenFrom led, "ice".
2.FebruariusFebruaryúnorProbably from the word root -nor-, infinitive form nořit (se), "to plunge, to welter", as the ice welters under the lake surface.
3.MartiusMarchbřezenEither from bříza, "birch", or from březí, "gravid, with young", as the forest animals, mainly hares and rabbits, are pregnant at that time.[30]
4.AprilisAprildubenDerived from dub, "oak".
5.MaiusMaykvětenFrom květ, "blossom". Originally máj, "May". The word květen first appeared in Jungmann's translation of Atala from 1805 as a poetism and translation for French lune de fleurs (month of flowers), but quickly gained acceptance. Jungmann was probably also influenced by the Polish word kwiecień ("April").
6.IuniusJunečervenEither from červený, "red", or from červ, "worm", both related to fruit.
7.IuliusJulyčervenecThe same as červen with a diminutive suffix ec, lit. "small červen".
8.AugustusAugustsrpenFrom srp, "sickle" - used for harvesting.
9.SeptemberSeptemberzáříFrom Old Czech zářij, from za říje. (See říjen.) Folk etymology derives it from zářit, "to blaze, glow, radiate, shine".
10.OctoberOctoberříjenFrom říje, "rutting", the time when the – mainly deer – males want to couple.
11.NovemberNovemberlistopadLiterally "leaf-fall".
12.DecemberDecemberprosinecEither from prosit, "to pray, beg, to ask, to plead", possibly relating to holidays at this time, or from prosinalý, "pallid", from siný, deep blue, because the sky is usually pallid at this time.
Close

Macedonian months

The Macedonian language has two sets of names of the months of the Gregorian calendar. The most commonly used set of names is derived from the Latin month names and these are used by the vast majority of the Macedonian population. However, there is also a set of older names for the twelve months of Slavic origin that differ from the Latin month names, although their usage is archaized and largely restricted to folk literature and religious calendars issued by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

The origin of the Macedonian month names is closely related to the agricultural activities that occur in the corresponding period, or to the weather conditions common for that period. Some months have alternative names in different regions. The usage of modern Latin month names among Macedonians started towards the end of the 19th century, as a result of mass education.

More information No., Latin name ...
No.Latin nameEnglish nameMacedonian CyrillicMacedonian LatinOld Macedonian nameTransliterationEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryЈануариJanuariКоложегKoložegMonth of burning tree trunks
2.FebruariusFebruaryФевруариFevruariСечкоSečkoMonth of ice
3.MartiusMarchМартMartЦутарCutarMonth of blossoming
4.AprilisAprilАприлAprilТревенTrevenMonth of grass
5.MaiusMayМајMajКосарKosarTime of flowering grasses and shrubs
6.IuniusJuneЈуниJuniЖетварŽetvarTime of maturity of the first yield of fruits
7.IuliusJulyЈулиJuliЗлатецZlatecGolden month
8.AugustusAugustАвгустAvgustЖитарŽitarMonth of wheat
9.SeptemberSeptemberСептемвриSeptemvriГроздоберGrozdoberMonth of harvesting grapes
10.OctoberOctoberОктомвриOktomvriЛистопадListopadMonth of leaves falling
11.NovemberNovemberНоемвриNoemvriСтуденStudenMonth of cold
12.DecemberDecemberДекемвриDekemvriСнежникSnežnikMonth of snow
Close

Polish months

The names of Polish months are, as in Belarusian, Croatian, Czech, Kashubian, and Ukrainian, not based on the Latin names used in most European languages, with the exception of March and May, which were borrowed from the Gregorian calendar.

More information No., Latin name ...
No.Latin nameEnglish namePolish nameEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuarystyczeńInherited from Old Polish sieczeń, from Proto-Slavic *sěčьnь (“winter month of cutting wood”), derived from Proto-Slavic *sěča (“cutting wood”), from Proto-Slavic *sěťi (“to cut”), with -ty- possibly by influence from the word tyka (“pole, rod, branch, beam”).[31]
2.FebruariusFebruarylutyInherited from Old Polish luty, from Proto-Slavic *ľutъ (“harsh, cruel, severe”).[32]
3.MartiusMarchmarzecBorrowed from Middle High German marz, from Old High German merzo, from Latin Mārtius (“of or belonging to Mars, the god of war”). Diplaced Old Polish brzezień.[33]
4.AprilisAprilkwiecieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *květьnь, derived from Proto-Slavic *květъ (“flower”). Diplaced Old Polish łżykwiat.[34]
5.MaiusMaymajBorrowed from Latin Maius (“of or belonging to Maia, the goddess of growth”). Diplaced Old Polish trawień.[35]
6.IuniusJuneczerwiecInherited from Old Polish czyrwiec. By surface analysis, from czerw (“maggot; red dye made from bugs”) + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish czyrwień possibly under influence of marzec and later lipiec.[36]
7.IuliusJulylipiecInherited from Proto-Slavic *lipьcь. By surface analysis, from lipa (“linden, lime-tree, basswood”) + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish lipień.[37]
8.AugustusAugustsierpieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *sŕ̥pьnь. By surface analysis, from sierp (“sickle”) + -eń.[38]
9.SeptemberSeptemberwrzesieńDerived from wrzos (“heather”) + -eń.[39]
10.OctoberOctoberpaździernikDerived from paździerz (“boon, hurds, shives, shoves”) + -nik.[40]
11.NovemberNovemberlistopadInherited from Proto-Slavic *listopadъ. By surface analysis, from liść (“leaf”) + -o- + padać (“to fall”).[41]
12.DecemberDecembergrudzieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *grudьnъ. By surface analysis, from gruda (“clod, heap, lump”) + -eń.[42]
Close

Russian months

The names of Russian months used with the Gregorian calendar by vast majority of the Russian population. The most of names for the twelve months of Slavic origin that is differ from the Latin month names and standardized set of archaic that issued by Old Church Slavonic.

More information No., Latin name ...
No. Latin name English name Russian Cyrillic Russian Latin Russian name[a] (archaic) Transliteration Etymology
1. Ianuarius January Январь Janvar' Сечень Sečen' Month of cutting wood
2. Februarius February Февраль Fevral' Лютень Ljuten' Month of harshing
3. Martius March Март Mart Берeзозол Berezozol Month of birch
4. Aprilis April Апрель Aprel' Цветень (Цвѣтень) Cveten' Month of blossoming
5. Maius May Май Maj Травень Traven' Month of grass
6. Iunius June Июнь Ijun' Червень Červen' Month of gules
7. Iulius July Июль Ijul' Липец (Липецъ) Lipec Month of linden tree
8. Augustus August Август Avgust Серпень Serpen' Month of sickle
9. September September Сентябрь Sentjabr' Вересень Veresen' Month of heather
10. October October Октябрь Oktjabr' Листопад (Листопадъ) Listopad Month of leaves falling
11. November November Ноябрь Nojabr' Грудень Gruden' Month of heap
12. December December Декабрь Dekabrí Студень Studen' Month of cold
Close

Slovene months

Many of the names in the standardized set of archaic Slovene month names first occur in the Škofja Loka manuscript, written in 1466 by Martin of Loka.[43]

More information No., Latin name ...
No.Latin nameEnglish nameSlovene nameSlovene name (archaic)Etymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryjanuarprosinec'(sun) shining through';[44][45]
2.FebruariusFebruaryfebruarsvečanperhaps 'dry' or 'cut' (influenced by svečnica 'Candlemas');[44][45]
3.MartiusMarchmarecsušec'(earth) dry (enough for cultivation)';[44][45]
4.AprilisAprilaprilmali traven'small grass';[44][45]
5.MaiusMaymajveliki traven'large grass';[44][45]
6.IuniusJunejunijrožnik'flowers' (a translation of German Rosenmonat);[44][45]
7.IuliusJulyjulijmali srpan'small sickle' (i.e., reaping);[44][45]
8.AugustusAugustavgustveliki srpan'large sickle' (i.e., reaping);[44][45]
9.SeptemberSeptemberseptemberkimavec'nodding (fruit)';[45]
10.OctoberOctoberoktobervinotok'wine flowing' (a translation of German Weinmonat);[44][45]
11.NovemberNovembernovemberlistopad'falling leaves';[44][45]
12.DecemberDecemberdecembergruden'biting (cold)'[44] or 'clumped (earth)';[45]
Close

Ukrainian months

The names of Ukrainian months are not based on the Latin names used in most European languages. Latin names are not used at all, though it's possible to hear distorted versions of Russian or Polish names in surzhyk sometimes. The suffix -en is added to most of the months' names.

More information №, Months ...
MonthsTransliterationEtymology
English name Ukrainian name
1.JanuaryсіченьsichenDerives from Ukrainian: сечище, сеча place, cleared from trees and plants, which is itself derived from Old East Slavic: сѣча (of the same meaning).[46] It is a reference to slash-and-burn agricultural practice.[47][48]
2.Februaryлютий

(arch. лютень)

liutyi (liuten)Derives from Ukrainian: лютий fierce, savage. It was called so due to an extremely cold temperatures.[49] Both names were used simultaneously up to the first half of the XX century, but the simplified adjective form prevailed eventually.[50][51][52][53]
3.MarchберезеньberezenDerives from Ukrainian: береза birch. Birches usually begin to bloom in the end of March, which is also a time of a birch sap collection.[54]
4.AprilквітеньkvitenDerives from Ukrainian: квіт, цвіт bloom. It was called so due to the intensive blooming of most known species of flowers, growing in Ukraine. It is also has connections with the birch bloom.[55]
5.MayтравеньtravenFrom Ukrainian: трава grass. The name comes from various grasses that abundantly cover the earth with green growth in this months.
6.JuneчервеньchervenFrom Ukrainian: червець cochineal, a bug active in the first half of summer. The month used to share this name with the bug previously.
7.JulyлипеньlypenFrom Ukrainian: липа linden. This name is associated with the exuberant flowering of linden trees and the period of collecting linden honey.
8.AugustсерпеньserpenFrom Ukrainian: серп sickle. This month marks the start of grain harvest in Ukraine. Sickle is the most known tool used in this process.
9.SeptemberвересеньveresenFrom Ukrainian: верес heather.[56] Heather is a honey plant, which usually begins to bloom in the start of this month.
10.OctoberжовтеньzhovtenFrom Ukrainian: жовте yellow. This names comes from autumn yellowing of leaves.
11.NovemberлистопадlystopadLiterally means leaf-fall. It is a combination of Ukrainian words листя and падleaves and fall respectively.
12.DecemberгруденьhrudenFrom Ukrainian: грудка lump. A reference to snow conditions of this month.
Close

See also

Notes

References

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.