Slavic calendar

While many Slavic languages officially use Latin-derived names for the months of the year in the Gregorian calendar, there is also a set of older names for the twelve months that differs from the Latin month names, as they are of Slavic origin. In some languages, such as the Serbian language these traditional names have since been archaized and are thus seldom used.

The original names of the months of the year in the Slavic languages closely follow natural occurrences such as weather patterns and conditions common for that period, as well as agricultural activities.

Many months have several alternative names in different regions; conversely, a single "Slavic name" may correspond to different "Roman names" (for different months, usually following each other) in different languages.

Comparison table

The Slavic names of the months have been preserved by a number of Slavic people in a variety of languages. The conventional month names in some of these languages are mixed, including names which show the influence of the Germanic calendar (particularly Slovene, Sorbian, and Polabian)[1] or names which are borrowed from the Gregorian calendar (particularly Polish and Kashubian), but they have been included here nonetheless.

In the Lithuanian language, the Baltic names of the months are preserved, which partially coincide with the Slavic ones, which suggests that some of these names may date back to the time of the Balto-Slavic linguistic unity. Lithuanian names are also shown in this table for comparison.

Comparison of the traditional names for the twelve months in different Slavic languages[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Language January February March April May June July August September October November December
Belarusian студзень
studzen′		 люты
ljuty		 сакавік
sakavik		 красавік
krasavik		 травень
traven′		 чэрвень
čèrven′		 ліпень
lipen′		 жнівень
žniven′		 верасень
verasen′		 кастрычнік
kastryčnik		 лістапад
listapad		 снежань
snežan′
Ukrainian січень
sičen′		 лютий
ljutyj		 березень
berezen′		 квітень
kviten′		 червень
červen′		 липень
lypen′		 серпень
serpen′		 вересень
veresen′		 жовтень
žovten′		 листопад
lystopad		 грудень
hruden′
Rusyn лютый
ljutyj		 цвітень
cviten′		 жолтень
žolten′
Russian (archaic) сечень
sečenʹ		 лютень
ljutenʹ		 березозол
berezozol		 цветень
cvetenʹ		 липец
lipec		 листопад
listopad		 грудень
grudenʹ		 студень
studenʹ
Old East Slavic стоудѣнь
studěnʹ		 снежѣнь
snežěnʹ		 соухїй
suhij		 берѣзолъ
berězolŭ		 травѣнь
travěnʹ		 чѣрвѣнь
čěrvěnʹ		 липѣнь
lipenʹ		 сѣрпѣнь
sěrpěnʹ		 версѣнь
versěnʹ		 осень
osenʹ		 листопадъ
listopadŭ		 гроудѣнь
gruděnʹ
Old Church Slavonic просиньць
prosinĭcĭ		 сѣчьнъ
sěčĭnŭ		 соухъ
suhŭ		 брѣзьнъ
brězĭnŭ		 трѣвьнъ
trěvĭnŭ		 изокъ
izokŭ		 чръвлѥнꙑи
črŭvljenyi		 заревъ
zarevŭ		 роуинъ
ruinŭ		 листопадъ
listopadŭ		 гроудьнъ
grudĭnŭ		 стоуденъ
studenŭ
Bulgarian (archaic) сечен
sečen		 люти
ljuti		 сухи
suhi		 брезен
brezen		 тревен
treven		 изок
izok		 червен
červen		 зарев
zarev		 руен
ruen		 листопад
listopad		 груден
gruden		 просинец
prosinec
Macedonian (archaic) коложег
koložeg		 сечко
sečko		 цутар
cutar		 тревен
treven		 косар
kosar		 жетвар
žetvar		 златец
zlatec		 житар
žitar		 гроздобер
grozdober		 студен
studen		 снежник
snežnik
Serbian (archaic) дерикожа
derikoža		 лажитрава
lažitrava		 цветањ
cvetanj		 трешњар
trešnjar		 жетвар
žetvar		 гумник
gumnik		 коледар
koledar
Croatian siječanj veljača ožujak travanj svibanj lipanj srpanj kolovoz rujan listopad studeni prosinac
Slovene (archaic) prosinec svečan sušec mali traven veliki traven rožnik mali srpan veliki srpan kimavec vinotok listopad gruden
Slovak (archaic) veľký sečeň malý sečeň brezen duben kveten lipen červenec klasen malý rujen veľký rujen prosinec
Czech leden únor březen květen červen srpen září říjen
Polish styczeń luty marzec* kwiecień maj* czerwiec lipiec sierpień wrzesień październik grudzień
brzezień (archaic) trawień (archaic)
łżykwiat (archaic)
Kashubian stëcznik gromicznik strëmiannik łżëkwiat môj* czerwińc lëpińc zélnik séwnik rujan lëstopadnik gòdnik
luti kwiecéń gòran miodownik serzpiéń wrzeseń pazdzérznik grëdzéń
Lower Sorbian (archaic) wezymski swěckowny pózymski jatšownik rozhelony smažki žnjojski jacmjeński požnjenc winski młośny zymski
Upper Sorbian (archaic) wulki róžk mały róžk nalětnik jutrownik róžownik pražnik žnjenc winowc nazymnik hodownik
Polabian (extinct) ledemån rüzac zürmån chåidemån laisemån pąťustemån zeminik haimån jisinmån vaińamån zaimamån trübnemån
Lithuanian (non-Slavic) sausis vasaris kovas balandis gegužė birželis liepa rugpjūtis rugsėjis spalis lapkritis gruodis

*Non-slavic

Croatian months

The Croatian months used with the Gregorian calendar by Croats differ from the original Latin month names.

No.Latin nameEnglish nameCroatian nameCroatian meaning
1IanuariusJanuarysiječanj from cutting or hewing wood[12] but there are also dialectal terms 'svečan, svičen, sičan' that have a meaning 'festive', so there is a possibility of a meaning 'festive month' (as there are several holidays celebrated in January)[13]
2FebruariusFebruaryveljača month in which days become longer, oveljiti se = to get bigger;[14] or to wallow, to roll valjati, to indicate unstable weather[15]
3MartiusMarchožujak lying month (laž>ož; laž = a lie), because the weather is changing often[16][17]
4AprilisApriltravanj from growing grass, trava[18]
5MaiusMaysvibanj from budding Cornel tree svib[19]
6IuniusJunelipanj from linden tree, lipa[20]
7IuliusJulysrpanj from reaping with a sickle, srp[21]
8AugustusAugustkolovoz from driving a wagon (for harvest) — wheel kolo + drive voz[22]
9SeptemberSeptemberrujan from an archaic verb for deer roaring[23] or from a poetic word for blushing, rosy[24]
10OctoberOctoberlistopad from falling leaves — leaf list + fall padati[25]
11NovemberNovemberstudeni from cold, studen[26]
12DecemberDecemberprosinac the beginning of the Sun's shining, to dawn sinuti;[27] or from sinji, greyish blue color[28]

Czech months

The names of Czech months are, as in Belarusian, Croatian, Kashubian, Polish, and Ukrainian, not based on the Latin names used in most European languages. The suffix -en is added to most of the months' names.

No.Latin nameEnglish nameCzech nameMeaning
1.IanuariusJanuaryledenFrom led, "ice".
2.FebruariusFebruaryúnorProbably from the word root -nor-, infinitive form nořit (se), "to plunge, to welter", as the ice welters under the lake surface.
3.MartiusMarchbřezenEither from bříza, "birch", or from březí, "gravid, with young", as the forest animals, mainly hares and rabbits, are pregnant at that time.[29]
4.AprilisAprildubenDerived from dub, "oak".
5.MaiusMaykvětenFrom květ, "blossom". Originally máj, "May". The word květen first appeared in Jungmann's translation of Atala from 1805 as a poetism and translation for French lune de fleurs (month of flowers), but quickly gained acceptance. Jungmann was probably also influenced by the Polish word kwiecień ("April").
6.IuniusJunečervenEither from červený, "red", or from červ, "worm", both related to fruit.
7.IuliusJulyčervenecThe same as červen with a diminutive suffix ec, lit. "small červen".
8.AugustusAugustsrpenFrom srp, "sickle" - used for harvesting.
9.SeptemberSeptemberzáříFrom Old Czech zářij, from za říje. (See říjen.) Folk etymology derives it from zářit, "to blaze, glow, radiate, shine".
10.OctoberOctoberříjenFrom říje, "rutting", the time when the – mainly deer – males want to couple.
11.NovemberNovemberlistopadLiterally "leaf-fall".
12.DecemberDecemberprosinecEither from prosit, "to pray, beg, to ask, to plead", possibly relating to holidays at this time, or from prosinalý, "pallid", from siný, deep blue, because the sky is usually pallid at this time.

Macedonian months
Main article: Macedonian months

The Macedonian language has two sets of names of the months of the Gregorian calendar. The most commonly used set of names is derived from the Latin month names and these are used by the vast majority of the Macedonian population. However, there is also a set of older names for the twelve months of Slavic origin that differ from the Latin month names, although their usage is archaized and largely restricted to folk literature and religious calendars issued by the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

The origin of the Macedonian month names is closely related to the agricultural activities that occur in the corresponding period, or to the weather conditions common for that period. Some months have alternative names in different regions. The usage of modern Latin month names among Macedonians started towards the end of the 19th century, as a result of mass education.

No.Latin nameEnglish nameMacedonian CyrillicMacedonian LatinOld Macedonian nameTransliterationMeaning
1.IanuariusJanuaryЈануариJanuariКоложегKoložegMonth of burning tree trunks
2.FebruariusFebruaryФевруариFevruariСечкоSečkoMonth of ice
3.MartiusMarchМартMartЦутарCutarMonth of blossoming
4.AprilisAprilАприлAprilТревенTrevenMonth of grass
5.MaiusMayМајMajКосарKosarTime of flowering grasses and shrubs
6.IuniusJuneЈуниJuniЖетварŽetvarTime of maturity of the first yield of fruits
7.IuliusJulyЈулиJuliЗлатецZlatecGolden month
8.AugustusAugustАвгустAvgustЖитарŽitarMonth of wheat
9.SeptemberSeptemberСептемвриSeptemvriГроздоберGrozdoberMonth of harvesting grapes
10.OctoberOctoberОктомвриOktomvriЛистопадListopadMonth of leaves falling
11.NovemberNovemberНоемвриNoemvriСтуденStudenMonth of cold
12.DecemberDecemberДекемвриDekemvriСнежникSnežnikMonth of snow

Polish months

The names of Polish months are, as in Belarusian, Croatian, Czech, Kashubian, and Ukrainian, not based on the Latin names used in most European languages, with the exception of March and May, which were borrowed from the Gregorian calendar.

No.Latin nameEnglish namePolish nameMeaning
1.IanuariusJanuarystyczeńInherited from Old Polish sieczeń, from Proto-Slavic *sěčьnь (“winter month of cutting wood”), derived from Proto-Slavic *sěča (“cutting wood”), from Proto-Slavic *sěťi (“to cut”), with -ty- possibly by influence from the word tyka (“pole, rod, branch, beam”).[30]
2.FebruariusFebruarylutyInherited from Old Polish luty, from Proto-Slavic *ľutъ (“harsh, cruel, severe”).[31]
3.MartiusMarchmarzecBorrowed from Middle High German marz, from Old High German merzo, from Latin Mārtius (“of or belonging to Mars, the god of war”). Diplaced Old Polish brzezień.[32]
4.AprilisAprilkwiecieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *květьnь, derived from Proto-Slavic *květъ (“flower”). Diplaced Old Polish łżykwiat.[33]
5.MaiusMaymajBorrowed from Latin Maius (“of or belonging to Maia, the goddess of growth”). Diplaced Old Polish trawień.[34]
6.IuniusJuneczerwiecInherited from Old Polish czyrwiec. By surface analysis, from czerw (“maggot; red dye made from bugs”) + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish czyrwień possibly under influence of marzec and later lipiec.[35]
7.IuliusJulylipiecInherited from Proto-Slavic *lipьcь. By surface analysis, from lipa (“linden, lime-tree, basswood”) + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish lipień.[36]
8.AugustusAugustsierpieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *sŕ̥pьnь. By surface analysis, from sierp (“sickle”) + -eń.[37]
9.SeptemberSeptemberwrzesieńDerived from wrzos (“heather”) + -eń.[38]
10.OctoberOctoberpaździernikDerived from paździerz (“boon, hurds, shives, shoves”) + -nik.[39]
11.NovemberNovemberlistopadInherited from Proto-Slavic *listopadъ. By surface analysis, from liść (“leaf”) + -o- + padać (“to fall”).[40]
12.DecemberDecembergrudzieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *grudьnъ. By surface analysis, from gruda (“clod, heap, lump”) + -eń.[41]

Russian months

The names of Russian months used with the Gregorian calendar by vast majority of the Russian population. The most of names for the twelve months of Slavic origin that is differ from the Latin month names and standardized set of archaic that issued by Old Church Slavonic.

No. Latin name English name Russian Cyrillic Russian Latin Russian name

(archaic)

 Transliteration Meaning
1. Ianuarius January Январь Janvar' Сечень Sečen' Month of cutting wood
2. Februarius February Февраль Fevral' Лютень Ljuten' Month of harshing
3. Martius March Март Mart Берeзозол Berezozol Month of birch
4. Aprilis April Апрель Aprel' Цветень Cveten' Month of blossoming
5. Maius May Май Maj Травень Traven' Month of grass
6. Iunius June Июнь Ijun' Червень Červen' Month of gules
7. Iulius July Июль Ijul' Липец Lipec Month of linden tree
8. Augustus August Август Avgust Серпень Serpen' Month of sickle
9. September September Сентябрь Sentjabr' Вересень Veresen' Month of heather
10. October October Октябрь Oktjabr' Листопад Listopad Month of leaves falling
11. November November Ноябрь Nojabr' Грудень Gruden' Month of heap
12. December December Декабрь Dekabrí Студень Studen' Month of cold

Slovene months
Main article: Slovene months

Many of the names in the standardized set of archaic Slovene month names first occur in the Škofja Loka manuscript, written in 1466 by Martin of Loka.[42]

No.Latin nameEnglish nameSlovene nameSlovene name (archaic)Meaning
1.IanuariusJanuaryjanuarprosinec'(sun) shining through';[43][44]
2.FebruariusFebruaryfebruarsvečanperhaps 'dry' or 'cut' (influenced by svečnica 'Candlemas');[43][44]
3.MartiusMarchmarecsušec'(earth) dry (enough for cultivation)';[43][44]
4.AprilisAprilaprilmali traven'small grass';[43][44]
5.MaiusMaymajveliki traven'large grass';[43][44]
6.IuniusJunejunijrožnik'flowers' (a translation of German Rosenmonat);[43][44]
7.IuliusJulyjulijmali srpan'small sickle' (i.e., reaping);[43][44]
8.AugustusAugustavgustveliki srpan'large sickle' (i.e., reaping);[43][44]
9.SeptemberSeptemberseptemberkimavec'nodding (fruit)';[44]
10.OctoberOctoberoktobervinotok'wine flowing' (a translation of German Weinmonat);[43][44]
11.NovemberNovembernovemberlistopad'falling leaves';[43][44]
12.DecemberDecemberdecembergruden'biting (cold)'[43] or 'clumped (earth)';[44]

See also

References
  1. Reindl, Donald F. (1 July 1995). "Evidence for the Germanic Origins of Some Slovene Month Names". Slovene Studies. 15 (1): 169–178. doi:10.7152/ssj.v15i1.4179.
  2. Nedeljković, Mile (September 1998). "Zimski znak vatre letnji znak sunca i Perunova munja" [Winter fire symbol, summer sun symbol, and lightning of Perun]. Srpsko nasleđe (in Serbian) (9). Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  3. Nedeljković, Mile (1990). Godišnji običaji u Srba [Annual traditions of the Serbs] (in Serbian). Belgrade: Vuk Karadžić.
  4. Jovanović, Stanoje, ed. (1999). Jezici podunavskih zemalja (i ruski) [Languages of the Danube countries (and Russia)]. Belgrade: YU Marketing Press and Verzalpress. OCLC 443031481.
  5. Gleichova, Jarmila; Jenikova, Anna (1982). Česko-srbocharvatsky a srbocharvatsko-česky slovnik na cesty [Czech–Serbo-Croatian/Serbo-Croatian–Czech travel dictionary] (in Czech). Prague: Statni pedagogicke nakladatelstvi.
  6. Menac, Antica; Kovalʹ, Alla P. (1979). Hrvatsko ili srpsko-ukrajinski rječnik [Croatian/Serbian–Ukrainian dictionary]. Zagreb: SNL. OCLC 800783862.
  7. "Carpatho-Rusyn month names". rolandanderson.se. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  8. Serbska protyka [Sorbian calendar]. Bautzen: Domowina. 1968.
  9. Јacanović, Dragan (2000). Srpsko kalendarsko znanje u epskim narodnim pesmama [Serbian calendar knowledge in folk epic poetry] (in Serbian). Rača.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. Zaroff, Roman (5 May 2016). "Measurement of Time by the Ancient SlavsMerjenje časa pri starih Slovanih" (PDF). Studia mythologica Slavica. 19: 9–39. doi:10.3986/sms.v19i0.6614.
  11. Hauptova Z., editor (1958–1997) Slovník jazyka staroslověnského (Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae), Prague: Euroslavica
  12. "siječanj". Croatian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  13. "NAZIV MJESECI U GODINI NA HRVATSKOM". hamdočamo. 7 February 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  14. "veljača". Croatian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  15. "travanj". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. "ožujak". Croatian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  17. "ožujak". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  18. "travanj". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  19. "svibanj". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  20. "lipanj". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  21. "srpanj". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  22. "kolovoz". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  23. "rujan". Croatian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  24. "rujan". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  25. "listopad". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  26. "studeni". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  27. "prosinac". Croatian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  28. "prosinac". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Znanje d.o.o. and Srce. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  29. Machek, 1968, in Václav Machek, Etymologický slovník jazyka českého, second edition, Academia, 1968
  30. "styczeń". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  31. "luty". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  32. "marzec". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  33. "kwiecień". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  34. "maj". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  35. "czerwiec". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  36. "lipiec". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  37. "sierpień". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  38. "wrzesień". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  39. "październik". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  40. "listopad". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  41. "grudzień". Wielki słownik języka polskiego (in Polish). Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  42. Stabej, Jože (1966). "Ob petstoletnici škofjeloškega zapisa slovenskih imen za mesece" [On the 500th Anniversary of the Škofja Loka Recording of Slovene Month Names]. Loški razgledi (in Slovenian). Muzejsko društvo Škofja Loka [Museum Society of Škofja Loka]. 13. ISSN 0459-8210.
  43. Snoj, Marko. 2003. Slovenski etimološki slovar. 2nd edition. Ljubljana: Modrijan.
  44. Vaštíková, Zuzana. 2012. Slovinské a české pranostiky. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, Filozofická fakulta, Ústav slavistiky.
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