If you’re learning Afrikaans, knowing how to talk about the seasons and months of the year will help you communicate more naturally when discussing the weather, planning events, or talking about holidays and birthdays. These are everyday words that will enrich your vocabulary and make your conversations sound more fluent.
In Afrikaans, the names of the months are very similar to English, since both languages share Germanic roots. The seasons are also easy to learn and commonly used in daily conversation and media. Understanding these time-related words will help you follow timetables, read calendars, and express dates with confidence.
Seasons of the Year in Afrikaans
| English | Afrikaans with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| winter | winter |
| spring | lente |
| summer | sommer |
| autumn | herfs |
There are four seasons in Afrikaans, just like in English. The word for “season” is seisoen (plural: seisoene). Here are some common examples of how seasons appear in context:
- Die winter is baie koud. – The winter is very cold.
- Ek hou van die lente. – I like the spring.
In casual speech, seasons are often used when talking about holidays, changes in weather, or annual routines like school terms and farming cycles.
Names of the Months in Afrikaans
| English | Afrikaans with pronunciation volume_down |
|---|---|
| January | Januarie |
| February | Februarie |
| March | Maart |
| April | April |
| May | Mei |
| June | Junie |
| July | Julie |
| August | Augustus |
| September | September |
| October | Oktober |
| November | November |
| December | Desember |
The months in Afrikaans are very similar to English and are always written with capital letters. Most of them are almost identical in spelling and pronunciation. To say something happens in a month, use the preposition “in” followed by the name of the month:
- My verjaarsdag is in Oktober. – My birthday is in October.
- Ons gaan vakansie hou in Desember. – We’re going on vacation in December.
Dates in Afrikaans are typically written in the format: 15 Mei 2025 (15 May 2025). Knowing the months and seasons allows you to express time and talk about your plans more easily in both spoken and written Afrikaans.
Continue Learning Afrikaans
Now that you’ve learned the seasons and months, move on to our lesson on Days of the Week in Afrikaans or explore Afrikaans Colours to strengthen your everyday vocabulary even further.