month in italian

When you talk about dates, plans, or schedules, knowing how to say “month” in Italian is useful. For shorter calendar units, compare day in Italian. The word appears in everyday questions about birthdays, holidays, and how long something lasts. Italian also has a few grammar details that make it worth learning with examples.

How Do You Say Month in Italian?

The Italian word for “month” is mese. It is a masculine noun, so it takes masculine articles: il mese (“the month”) and un mese (“a month”). Use it for a calendar month or a period of approximately one month, depending on context.

For example, il mese di maggio means “the month of May,” while un mese fa means “a month ago.” In a sentence, the article may change with the preposition: nel mese di giugno means “in the month of June.” In everyday conversation, speakers often simply say a giugno (“in June”).

How to Pronounce Mese

Pronounce mese as MEH-zeh, in two syllables: mé-se. The first syllable is stressed. In standard Italian, the letter s between vowels is voiced, so it sounds like the “z” in “zero,” not the “s” in “sun.” Keep the final vowel clear rather than reducing it to an English “uh.” Listen and repeat: mese.

The plural mesi is pronounced MEH-zee. It has the same first-syllable stress, and the final i sounds like “ee.”

Singular and Plural: Mese and Mesi

Mese becomes mesi in the plural. This is a common pattern for many masculine Italian nouns ending in -e: the ending changes to -i.

• un mese — one month
• due mesi — two months
• tre mesi — three months
• molti mesi — many months

Remember to change the article too: il mese is singular, while i mesi is plural. For example, Il mese è passato velocemente means “The month went by quickly,” and I mesi estivi sono caldi means “The summer months are hot.”

Months of the Year in Italian

Here are the twelve months; the months of the year in Italian guide gives more practice with their names. In Italian, month names are generally written with a lowercase initial letter unless they begin a sentence.

• January — gennaio
• February — febbraio
• March — marzo
• April — aprile
• May — maggio
• June — giugno
• July — luglio
• August — agosto
• September — settembre
• October — ottobre
• November — novembre
• December — dicembre

To say “in” a particular month, use a with the month name: a marzo (“in March”), a settembre (“in September”). For a range of months, use da… a…, as in da giugno ad agosto (“from June to August”).

Example Sentences Using Mese

These examples show how mese and mesi work in everyday Italian:

• Questo mese lavoro molto. — I’m working a lot this month.
• Il mio compleanno è il mese prossimo. — My birthday is next month.
• Siamo rimasti in Italia per un mese. — We stayed in Italy for one month.
• Ci vediamo tra due mesi. — We’ll see each other in two months.
• Qual è il tuo mese preferito? — What is your favorite month?
• Il negozio chiude nel mese di agosto. — The shop closes in the month of August.

Notice the useful time expressions questo mese (“this month”), il mese prossimo (“next month”), and tra due mesi (“in two months”).

Common Mistakes

Using the wrong plural: the plural of mese is mesi, not “meses.” Forgetting the noun’s gender: say il mese and un mese, with masculine articles. Capitalizing every month name: Italian normally writes them lowercase, such as aprile and ottobre. Pronouncing the middle consonant as an English s: in mese, the intervocalic s is voiced like z in standard pronunciation.

Summary: Month in Italian

“Month” in Italian is mese, pronounced MEH-zeh. It is masculine, and its plural is mesi. Use expressions such as questo mese (“this month”), il mese prossimo (“next month”), and a giugno (“in June”).

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