Weekdays, Months, Seasons
A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Calendar Vocabulary in Spanish
Tabla de Contenidos
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will identify and differentiate Spanish days of the week from months; understand the seasonal vocabulary used in Spanish for the four seasons; practice discussing specific dates in Spanish following the structure 'Hoy es (Today is) el # de (of) month' and 'Mañana será (Tomorrow will be) el # de (of) month'; and be able to apply the learned vocabulary and structures to engage in basic conversations about time and dates in Spanish.
Introduction
Time and dates are key elements in any language. Whether you’re scheduling an appointment, talking about your birthday, or planning a trip, knowing how to discuss days, months, and seasons in Spanish is essential. This lesson will equip you with the foundational phrases and structures you need to confidently navigate the calendar in Spanish.
Days of the Week: Los días de la semana
Spanish days of the week are typically written in lowercase unless they start a sentence. Here they are:
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| lunes | Monday | ||
| martes | Tuesday | ||
| miércoles | Wednesday | ||
| jueves | Thursday | ||
| viernes | Friday | ||
| sábado | Saturday | ||
| domingo | Sunday |
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoy es lunes. | Today is Monday. | ||
| ¿Qué día es hoy? Hoy es jueves. | What day is today? Today is Thursday. | ||
| Ayer fue domingo. | Yesterday was Sunday. | ||
| ¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? | What is today's date? | ||
| Hoy es el 10 de octubre. | Today is October 10. |
Note
Unlike English, the Spanish week traditionally starts on Monday.
Months of the Year: Los meses del año
Months in Spanish are also written in lowercase:
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| enero | January | ||
| febrero | February | ||
| marzo | March | ||
| abril | April | ||
| mayo | May | ||
| junio | June | ||
| julio | July | ||
| agosto | August | ||
| septiembre | September | ||
| octubre | October | ||
| noviembre | November | ||
| diciembre | December |
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi cumpleaños es en marzo. | My birthday is in March. | ||
| ¿En qué mes estamos? Estamos en octubre. | What month is it? We are in October. |
Seasons: Las estaciones
Spain and many Spanish-speaking countries have four distinct seasons. Keep in mind that seasons in the Southern Hemisphere occur at opposite times of the year compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| la primavera | Spring | ||
| el verano | Summer | ||
| el otoño | Autumn/Fall | ||
| el invierno | Winter |
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| La primavera empieza en marzo en el hemisferio norte. | Spring begins in March in the northern hemisphere. | ||
| Me gusta el verano porque hace calor. | I like summer because it's hot. |
Talking About Dates: Hablar de fechas
When discussing dates in Spanish, the structure typically follows this pattern:
El + [number] + de + [month] + de + [year, optional]
Examples:
-
Hoy es el 10 de abril. (Today is April 10th.)
-
Mañana será el 11 de abril. (Tomorrow will be April 11th.)
Note
Spanish often uses the cardinal number for dates (e.g., “uno” for 1st), except for the first day of the month, which can also be expressed as primero:
>Hoy es el primero de mayo.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You now have the fundamental vocabulary and structures for discussing days, months, seasons, and dates in Spanish. Keep using these phrases daily to solidify your skills and continue your journey toward Spanish fluency.