From birthdays and holidays to appointments and bills — talking about time is one of the first real-life skills German learners need. So how do you say month in German?

The word is der Monat. It’s masculine, and the plural is die Monate. If you're unsure when to use der, check out my gender video lesson — it’ll help you learn article patterns fast.

Monat is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s essential for describing everything from school schedules to rent cycles and subscription plans.

Here are simple examples in each case:

Nominative:
Der Monat ist fast vorbei.
The month is almost over.

Accusative:
Ich bezahle es jeden Monat.
I pay for it every month.

Dative:
Im Monat Juli sind wir im Urlaub.
In the month of July we’re on vacation.

Genitive:
Das Ende des Monats ist stressig.
The end of the month is stressful.

Some useful collocations and expressions:

  • ein kurzer Monat – a short month

  • der nächste Monat – next month

  • Monat für Monat – month after month

  • pro Monat – per month

  • ein Monatsabo – a monthly subscription

  • ein Gehalt pro Monat bekommen – to receive a salary per month

Typical verbs: zahlen (pay), vergehen (pass), planen (plan), dauern (last), starten, abonnieren
Adjectives: lang, kalt, neu, letzte, nächste, anstrengend

Note: You’ll also see monatlich — the adverb/adjective meaning "monthly."

Beginner dialogue using Monat:

A: Wie lange bleibst du in Berlin?
B: Einen Monat, vielleicht zwei.
A: How long are you staying in Berlin?
B: A month, maybe two.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Monat.

“Welcher Monat ist dein Lieblingsmonat — und warum?”
Which month is your favorite — and why?

Speak the full sentence using Monat. Connecting words to your real life makes them stick.

Duden entry for “Monat”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say month in German — and how der Monat shows up in everyday conversation, planning, and time-related vocabulary.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and keep building your confidence and fluency.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Mönch — and learn to describe a quiet, spiritual life.
Or revisit Monster — for playful, dramatic, and metaphorical vocabulary.

About the Author Stephan

Stephan has been a professional language teacher since the early 2000s. He's been calling Berlin his home since 2006, when he started managing (and founding his own) language schools in addition to teaching German and English. He's the owner of Deutschable and loves writing about language, history, and game changers.

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