Capitalization of Months in French
In the French language, months are not capitalized, unlike in English, where they are written with an initial capital letter. This rule applies to all months of the year, regardless of their position within a sentence. However, there is an exception to this rule: when a month appears at the beginning of a sentence, it is capitalized. This capitalization is a general rule for all proper nouns in French, which includes the names of months.
Key Facts
- Capitalization of Months: In French, months are not capitalized, except when they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
- Days of the Week: Similar to months, days of the week are not capitalized in French, unless they are at the beginning of a sentence.
- Fewer Capital Letters in French: Generally, the French language uses fewer capital letters compared to English.
Capitalization of Days of the Week
Similar to months, days of the week in French are also not capitalized, except when they appear at the beginning of a sentence. This rule applies to all days of the week, regardless of their position within a sentence.
General Use of Capital Letters in French
In general, the French language uses fewer capital letters compared to English. This is evident in various aspects of writing, including the capitalization of months and days of the week. This difference in capitalization reflects the distinct grammatical and stylistic conventions of the French language.
Conclusion
The capitalization of months and days of the week in French follows specific rules that differ from those in English. Months are not capitalized, except at the beginning of a sentence, and the same applies to days of the week. This reflects the broader tendency in French to use fewer capital letters compared to English. Understanding these capitalization rules is essential for accurate and appropriate writing in French.
References
- Berlitz. (2021, December 3). Months of the Year in French. Berlitz Blog. https://blog.gymglish.com/2021/12/03/months-of-the-year-french
- ThoughtCo. (2023, April 5). Top 10 Beginning French Mistakes. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/top-beginning-french-mistakes-1369444
FAQs
Do French capitalize months in written text?
Yes, in French, months are capitalized in written text.
Are the names of the months in French capitalized in all contexts?
Yes, the names of the months in French are capitalized in all contexts, including when they are used in sentences, titles, or headings.
Are there any exceptions to capitalizing months in French?
No, there are no exceptions to capitalizing months in French. It is a standard rule to capitalize the names of the months in written text.
How do you write the names of the months in French?
In French, the names of the months are written with a lowercase initial letter except for the first letter, which is capitalized. For example, “janvier” (January), “février” (February), “mars” (March), and so on.
Do French months have any special accents or diacritical marks?
Yes, some of the French month names have accents or diacritical marks. For example, “février” has an acute accent on the “é,” “juillet” has a cedilla under the “ç,” and “août” has a circumflex accent on the “ô.” These diacritical marks are important and should be included when writing the names of the months.
What is the order of the months in French?
The months in French follow the same order as in English. The order is as follows: janvier (January), février (February), mars (March), avril (April), mai (May), juin (June), juillet (July), août (August), septembre (September), octobre (October), novembre (November), décembre (December).
Are there any abbreviations for the French months?
Yes, there are commonly used abbreviations for the French months. For example, “janv.” for janvier, “fév.” for février, “mars” for mars, and so on. These abbreviations are often used in written dates or when space is limited.
Are there any regional variations in capitalizing months in French?
No, capitalizing months in French is a standard rule and is followed uniformly across all French-speaking regions. There are no regional variations in this regard.