A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "January" in French
The French word for January, the first month of the year. Use it when discussing dates or seasons.
janvier
zhahn-VYAYneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use 'janvier' when talking about events happening in January, like 'Mon anniversaire est en janvier' (My birthday is in January). It's also useful for discussing winter weather or holiday plans.
Alternatives
- le mois de janvierMore explicit, often used for clarity or emphasis.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 'j'
The French 'j' sounds like the 's' in 'measure', not the 'j' in 'jump'.
Silent 'r'
The final 'r' in 'janvier' is generally silent in standard pronunciation.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say January in French?
The French word for January is 'janvier'. It's pronounced roughly 'zhahn-VYAY'.
When is the first month of the year in France?
The first month of the year in France, as in most of the world, is January, which is 'janvier' in French.
French months capitalization?
In French, the names of months are not capitalized unless they start a sentence. So, you write 'en janvier', not 'en Janvier'.
How is January called in French?
January is called 'janvier' in French. It is pronounced roughly as 'zhahn-vee-ay'.
Do French say "bonne année" before January 1st?
No, the phrase 'bonne année' (Happy New Year) is typically said on or after January 1st. Saying it beforehand is considered premature.
What is January in French pronunciation?
The French word for January is 'janvier'. The pronunciation is approximately 'zhahn-vee-ay', with the 'j' sound like the 's' in 'pleasure'.
