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Month Names in German<br>In the modern era, we are used to a modicum of standardization, much of which transcends languages. In the theme of time designation, names of days and months are similar, if not the same, in many languages. For example, German and English have the same names for days of the week, albeit adapted to each language, with two exceptions. Sunday is ‘Sonntag’; Monday, ‘Montag,’ and so on. This similarity extends to the names of the months as well, as the standard names of the months all derive from the Latin tradition. That the ancient Germans borrowed the names of the months is a most curious occurrence, as they, along with most cultures, observed the phases of the moon and, hence, months. But borrow they did and today the English and German-speaking worlds both have month names based on Roman usage. And this we accept without much thought. However, the Germans have had other names for the months in addition to the standard designations. Most of these non-standard names are directly related to a weather feature or an event that happens around that time of the year. It is the purpose of this article to list as many of these non-standard names as possible and give their etymology. Many will be only variants of the standard form; and most will be dialect forms. Indeed, some of the names are Low German and look like Dutch or Flemish words. It is hoped that this list will be valuable to the genealogist as many of these names appear in older German documents instead of the standard names.<br>First is listed the alternative month name, the standard name, then the etymology. | Month Names in German<br>In the modern era, we are used to a modicum of standardization, much of which transcends languages. In the theme of time designation, names of days and months are similar, if not the same, in many languages. For example, German and English have the same names for days of the week, albeit adapted to each language, with two exceptions. Sunday is ‘Sonntag’; Monday, ‘Montag,’ and so on. This similarity extends to the names of the months as well, as the standard names of the months all derive from the Latin tradition. That the ancient Germans borrowed the names of the months is a most curious occurrence, as they, along with most cultures, observed the phases of the moon and, hence, months. But borrow they did and today the English and German-speaking worlds both have month names based on Roman usage. And this we accept without much thought. However, the Germans have had other names for the months in addition to the standard designations. Most of these non-standard names are directly related to a weather feature or an event that happens around that time of the year. It is the purpose of this article to list as many of these non-standard names as possible and give their etymology. Many will be only variants of the standard form; and most will be dialect forms. Indeed, some of the names are Low German and look like Dutch or Flemish words. It is hoped that this list will be valuable to the genealogist as many of these names appear in older German documents instead of the standard names.<br>First is listed the alternative month name, the standard name, then the etymology. | ||
We begin with the standard German names, which need no translation into English. <br>Januar—from the Roman god of gates, Janus, who was depicted with two faces, indicating an <br> end and a beginning. His festival was in January.<br>Februar—From Latin februaris, the festival of purification that took place in February<br>März—named for the Roman god of war, Mars<br>April—perhaps the ‘month of Venus’ from an Etruscan form of the Greek ‘Aphrodite’<br>Mai—named for Maia, goddess of spring<br>Juni—named for the goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and of well being of women<br>Juli—named after Julius Caesar. Renamed from Quinctilis, which meant ‘fifth’ because July <br> used to be the fifth month<br>August—named after Augustus Caesar. Renamed from Sextilis, which meant ‘fifth’ because<br>August used to be the sixth month<br>September— from Latin septem, meaning ‘seven’ because September used to be the seventh <br> month<br>Oktober— from Latin octo, meaning ‘eight’ because Oktober used to be the eighth month<br>November— from Latin novem, meaning ‘nine’ because November used to be the ninth month<br>Dezember—from Latin decem, meaning ‘ten’ because December used to be the tenth month | We begin with the standard German names, which need no translation into English. <br>Januar—from the Roman god of gates, Janus, who was depicted with two faces, indicating an <br> end and a beginning. His festival was in January.<br>Februar—From Latin februaris, the festival of purification that took place in February<br>März—named for the Roman god of war, Mars<br>April—perhaps the ‘month of Venus’ from an Etruscan form of the Greek ‘Aphrodite’<br>Mai—named for Maia, goddess of spring<br>Juni—named for the goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and of well being of women<br>Juli—named after Julius Caesar. Renamed from Quinctilis, which meant ‘fifth’ because July <br> used to be the fifth month<br>August—named after Augustus Caesar. Renamed from Sextilis, which meant ‘fifth’ because<br>August used to be the sixth month<br>September— from Latin septem, meaning ‘seven’ because September used to be the seventh <br> month<br>Oktober— from Latin octo, meaning ‘eight’ because Oktober used to be the eighth month<br>November— from Latin novem, meaning ‘nine’ because November used to be the ninth month<br>Dezember—from Latin decem, meaning ‘ten’ because December used to be the tenth month | ||
In old documents months were often indicated by numerals, both Arabic and Latin. These are not really names of the months, but written designations only; they would be pronounced as the standard names. The numbers, however, do not designate the number of the month, but rather the name of the month in Latin when these months were the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months, respectively. For example, 7 and VII were ''septem ''in Latin, so 7ber and VII were September, not July. And so on. | In old documents months were often indicated by numerals, both Arabic and Latin. These are not really names of the months, but written designations only; they would be pronounced as the standard names. The numbers, however, do not designate the number of the month, but rather the name of the month in Latin when these months were the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th months, respectively. For example, 7 and VII were ''septem ''in Latin, so 7ber and VII were September, not July. And so on. | ||
7ber—September<br>7bris—September<br>8ber—October<br>8bris—October<br>9ber—November<br>9bris—November<br>10ber—December <br>10bris—December <br>VIIber—September<br>VIIbris—September<br>VIIIber—October<br>VIIIbris—October<br>IXber—November<br>IXbris—November<br>Xber—December <br>Xbris—December | 7ber—September<br>7bris—September<br>8ber—October<br>8bris—October<br>9ber—November<br>9bris—November<br>10ber—December <br>10bris—December <br>VIIber—September<br>VIIbris—September<br>VIIIber—October<br>VIIIbris—October<br>IXber—November<br>IXbris—November<br>Xber—December <br>Xbris—December | ||
Abreille—April; q.v.<br>Abrulle—April ; q.v.<br>Armmonat—November; the ‘poor month’ <br>Augst—August; q.v.<br>Augstmonat—August; q.v.<br>Aust—August; q.v.<br>Austmonat—August; q.v.<br>Bisemond—August; ‘northwest wind month’ <br>Blütenmonat—May; ‘bloom month’<br>Braakmaand—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Brachat—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Brachet—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Broimond—June; ‘twig month’<br>Brumaent—June; ‘twig month’<br>Christmaand—December; ‘Christ month’<br>Christmonat—December; ‘Christ month’<br>Dritter Herbstmonat—November; ‘third autumn month’<br>Dustermond— December; ‘dark, gloomy, dismal month’<br>Dustermond—December; ‘dark, gloomy, dismal month’<br>Effeler—April. A dialect pronunciation of April; q.v.<br>Eismonat—January; ‘ice month’<br>Erne—July; from Ernte, ‘harvest month’<br>Ernte—July; ‘harvest month’<br>Erster Herbstmonat—September; ‘first autumn month’<br>Erster Monat—January; ‘First month’<br>Feber—February. Dialect form of February, q.v. Not to be confused with the German word <br>Feber, which means ‘fever.’<br>Feberwoor—February; dialect form of February, q.v.<br>Februor— February; dialect form of February, q.v.<br>Fruchtmonat—September; ‘fruit month’<br>Frühlingsmonat—March; ‘spring month’<br>Gilbhard— October; gilben ‘to become yellow,’ ‘yellow month’ <br>Grasmaent—April; ‘grass month’<br>Hartmonat—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Hartmond—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Hartung—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Harvstmaand—September; ‘harvest month’<br>Haumaand—July; ‘hay month’<br>Havermant— September; ‘oats or grain month’<br>Havermonat— September; ‘oats or grain month’<br>Heiligenmonat—December ‘Holy month’<br>Herpsten—September; from Herbst (related to English ‘harvest’) ‘autumn month’<br>Herbstmonat—September; ‘ autumn month’<br>Heuet—July; ‘hay month’<br>Heuert— July; ‘hay month’<br>Heumonat— July; ‘hay month’<br>Heumond— July; ‘hay month’<br>Hinterster Wintermonat—February ‘the last winter month’<br>Hitzmonat—August ‘heat month’<br>Horning—February; see Hornung<br>Hornung—February. This is probably the most interesting of the month names. There are <br>cognates to horn in the other Germanic languages, meaning ‘bastard.’ A ‘bastard’ inherits <br>less than his legitimate brothers, hence, the application of this word to the month of February, <br>i.e. the month that has received less than the others (February is shorter than all the other <br>months, even during leap year.) see Paul and Kluge <br>Jänner—January. A dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v. This is the standard form in Austria. <br>Januoor—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v.<br>Januwoor—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v.<br>Jenner—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v. <br>Julmonat—December. ‘Yule,’ originally a 12-day heathen festival occurring in late December <br>and early January<br>Lentmaand— March; ‘Lent month’; Lent is the 40 days before Easter in the ecclesiastical <br>calendar and means ‘springtime, the basis of the word is long and spring is the time when the <br>days lengthen’<br>Lenz—see Lentmaand <br>Lenzmonat— see Lentmaand<br>Lenzmond— see Lentmaand<br>Letztmaent—December; ‘last month’<br>Maaimaand—May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Maien— May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Marzo—March; god ‘Mars’<br>Mei— May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Märzmonat—March, god ‘Mars’.<br>Mertz—March, god ‘Mars’<br>Merz—March, god ‘Mars’<br>Nebelmonat—November; ‘fog month’<br>Nebelung—November; ‘fog month’<br>Negeder Mant—November; ‘9th month’ in Low German<br>Nevelmaand— November; ‘fog month’<br>Oest—dialect pronunciation of ‘August’<br>Ogst—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Oostermaand—April; ‘Easter month’<br>Oostermonat—April; ‘Easter month’<br>Owest—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Owestmaent—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Prillemond—dialect form of April<br>Osteren—April; ‘Easter’<br>Rebmonat—February; ‘shoot or vine month’<br>Regenmonat—February; ‘rain month’<br>Reifmonat—November; ‘ripe month’<br>Saatmonat—October; ‘seed month’<br>Scheiding— September; ‘to diverge, part, separate’ <br>Schneemond—January; ‘snow month’<br>Schlachtmonat—December; ‘slaughter month’<br>Selle—February; related to soll which means ‘mire, morass, swamp, pool’; probably ultimately <br>‘water,’ which would jibe with February during which it rains a lot<br>Sollman—February; see Selle<br>Sulle—February; see Selle <br>Sneemaand—January; ‘snow month’<br>Weidemonat—May; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Weidemaent—June; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Weinmonat—October; ‘wine month’<br>Wienmaand—October; ‘wine month’<br>Wiesemonat—June; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Windmonat—May, ‘wind month’<br>Wolfmonat—December; ‘wolf month’<br>Wintermonat—November; ‘winter month’ <br>Wolfsmonat—December; ‘wolf month’<br>Wymonat—October; ‘wine month’ <br>Wonnemonat—May; ‘bliss month<br>Wonnemond— May; ‘bliss month<br>Wonnermonat— May; ‘bliss month<br>Zweiter Herbstmond—Oktober. ‘Second autumn month’ | Abreille—April; q.v.<br>Abrulle—April ; q.v.<br>Armmonat—November; the ‘poor month’ <br>Augst—August; q.v.<br>Augstmonat—August; q.v.<br>Aust—August; q.v.<br>Austmonat—August; q.v.<br>Bisemond—August; ‘northwest wind month’ <br>Blütenmonat—May; ‘bloom month’<br>Braakmaand—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Brachat—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Brachet—June; ‘fallow month’<br>Broimond—June; ‘twig month’<br>Brumaent—June; ‘twig month’<br>Christmaand—December; ‘Christ month’<br>Christmonat—December; ‘Christ month’<br>Dritter Herbstmonat—November; ‘third autumn month’<br>Dustermond— December; ‘dark, gloomy, dismal month’<br>Dustermond—December; ‘dark, gloomy, dismal month’<br>Effeler—April. A dialect pronunciation of April; q.v.<br>Eismonat—January; ‘ice month’<br>Erne—July; from Ernte, ‘harvest month’<br>Ernte—July; ‘harvest month’<br>Erster Herbstmonat—September; ‘first autumn month’<br>Erster Monat—January; ‘First month’<br>Feber—February. Dialect form of February, q.v. Not to be confused with the German word <br>Feber, which means ‘fever.’<br>Feberwoor—February; dialect form of February, q.v.<br>Februor— February; dialect form of February, q.v.<br>Fruchtmonat—September; ‘fruit month’<br>Frühlingsmonat—March; ‘spring month’<br>Gilbhard— October; gilben ‘to become yellow,’ ‘yellow month’ <br>Grasmaent—April; ‘grass month’<br>Hartmonat—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Hartmond—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Hartung—January ‘hard’ in the meaning of ‘cold, frozen’<br>Harvstmaand—September; ‘harvest month’<br>Haumaand—July; ‘hay month’<br>Havermant— September; ‘oats or grain month’<br>Havermonat— September; ‘oats or grain month’<br>Heiligenmonat—December ‘Holy month’<br>Herpsten—September; from Herbst (related to English ‘harvest’) ‘autumn month’<br>Herbstmonat—September; ‘ autumn month’<br>Heuet—July; ‘hay month’<br>Heuert— July; ‘hay month’<br>Heumonat— July; ‘hay month’<br>Heumond— July; ‘hay month’<br>Hinterster Wintermonat—February ‘the last winter month’<br>Hitzmonat—August ‘heat month’<br>Horning—February; see Hornung<br>Hornung—February. This is probably the most interesting of the month names. There are <br>cognates to horn in the other Germanic languages, meaning ‘bastard.’ A ‘bastard’ inherits <br>less than his legitimate brothers, hence, the application of this word to the month of February, <br>i.e. the month that has received less than the others (February is shorter than all the other <br>months, even during leap year.) see Paul and Kluge <br>Jänner—January. A dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v. This is the standard form in Austria. <br>Januoor—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v.<br>Januwoor—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v.<br>Jenner—dialect pronunciation of Januar, q.v. <br>Julmonat—December. ‘Yule,’ originally a 12-day heathen festival occurring in late December <br>and early January<br>Lentmaand— March; ‘Lent month’; Lent is the 40 days before Easter in the ecclesiastical <br>calendar and means ‘springtime, the basis of the word is long and spring is the time when the <br>days lengthen’<br>Lenz—see Lentmaand <br>Lenzmonat— see Lentmaand<br>Lenzmond— see Lentmaand<br>Letztmaent—December; ‘last month’<br>Maaimaand—May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Maien— May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Marzo—March; god ‘Mars’<br>Mei— May; ‘May month’ goddess Maia<br>Märzmonat—March, god ‘Mars’.<br>Mertz—March, god ‘Mars’<br>Merz—March, god ‘Mars’<br>Nebelmonat—November; ‘fog month’<br>Nebelung—November; ‘fog month’<br>Negeder Mant—November; ‘9th month’ in Low German<br>Nevelmaand— November; ‘fog month’<br>Oest—dialect pronunciation of ‘August’<br>Ogst—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Oostermaand—April; ‘Easter month’<br>Oostermonat—April; ‘Easter month’<br>Owest—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Owestmaent—dialect pronunciation of August<br>Prillemond—dialect form of April<br>Osteren—April; ‘Easter’<br>Rebmonat—February; ‘shoot or vine month’<br>Regenmonat—February; ‘rain month’<br>Reifmonat—November; ‘ripe month’<br>Saatmonat—October; ‘seed month’<br>Scheiding— September; ‘to diverge, part, separate’ <br>Schneemond—January; ‘snow month’<br>Schlachtmonat—December; ‘slaughter month’<br>Selle—February; related to soll which means ‘mire, morass, swamp, pool’; probably ultimately <br>‘water,’ which would jibe with February during which it rains a lot<br>Sollman—February; see Selle<br>Sulle—February; see Selle <br>Sneemaand—January; ‘snow month’<br>Weidemonat—May; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Weidemaent—June; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Weinmonat—October; ‘wine month’<br>Wienmaand—October; ‘wine month’<br>Wiesemonat—June; ‘pasture/meadow month’<br>Windmonat—May, ‘wind month’<br>Wolfmonat—December; ‘wolf month’<br>Wintermonat—November; ‘winter month’ <br>Wolfsmonat—December; ‘wolf month’<br>Wymonat—October; ‘wine month’ <br>Wonnemonat—May; ‘bliss month<br>Wonnemond— May; ‘bliss month<br>Wonnermonat— May; ‘bliss month<br>Zweiter Herbstmond—Oktober. ‘Second autumn month’ | ||
<br>References | <br>References | ||
“Genealogical Word List: German.” 1987. European Reference Counter Edition, June 1988. <br> Salt Lake City: The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<br>Ebner, Jakob. 1969. ''Wie sagt man in Österreich?'' Mannheim: Bibliographisches Institut.<br>Kluge, Friedrich. 1995. ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch''. | “Genealogical Word List: German.” 1987. European Reference Counter Edition, June 1988. <br> Salt Lake City: The Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.<br>Ebner, Jakob. 1969. ''Wie sagt man in Österreich?'' Mannheim: Bibliographisches Institut.<br>Kluge, Friedrich. 1995. ''Etymologisches Wörterbuch''. 23rd ed. Bearbeitet von Elmar Seebold. Berlin: <br> Walter de Gruter.<br>Lindow, Wolfgang. 1987. ''Plattdeutsches-Hochdeutsches Wörterbuch''.3 Institut für Niederdeutsche | ||
Sprache. Bremen: Verlag Schuster Leer.<br>Meyer, Kurt. 1989. ''Wie sagt man in der Schweiz?'' Mannheim: Dudenverlag.<br>Paul, Hermann. 1966. ''Deutsches Wörterbuch''. 5th ed. Neubearbeitet von Werner Betz. Tübingen: <br> Max Niemeyer Verlag.<br> | |||