Months in Arabic: Full List of Arabic Month Names (Gregorian & Islamic)
Want to learn the months in Arabic quickly and correctly? Here’s a simple and complete guide to Arabic month names, including the Gregorian months in Arabic, Islamic Hijri months, pronunciation tips, and English translations.
Whether you’re studying Arabic, living in the Middle East, traveling to the UAE or Saudi Arabia, or learning Quranic and Islamic vocabulary, understanding the months of the year in Arabic is essential for reading calendars, filling forms, booking travel, understanding dates, and improving daily Arabic conversation.
Arabic-speaking countries commonly use two calendar systems:
- The Gregorian calendar (Western calendar used in daily life)
- The Islamic Hijri calendar (used for Ramadan, Hajj, Eid, and religious events)
Below is the complete list of months names in Arabic language with pronunciation and English meaning.
Quick Answers About Months in Arabic
What is “month” in Arabic?
The Arabic word for “month” is: شهر (Shahr)
Plural: أشهر (Ashhur) or شهور (Shuhūr)
Gregorian Months in Arabic
| English Month | Arabic Name | Arabic Script |
|---|---|---|
| January | Yanāyir | يناير |
| February | Fibrāyir | فبراير |
| March | Māris | مارس |
| April | Abrīl / Ibrīl | أبريل / إبريل |
| May | Māyū | مايو |
| June | Yūnyū | يونيو |
| July | Yūlyū | يوليو |
| August | Aghustus | أغسطس |
| September | Sibtambar | سبتمبر |
| October | Uktūbar | أكتوبر |
| November | Nūfambar | نوفمبر |
| December | Dīsambar | ديسمبر |
These are the most widely used Arabic names of Gregorian months across Gulf countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Islamic Months Name in Arabic (Hijri Calendar)
The Islamic lunar calendar contains 12 sacred months and is widely used across the Muslim world for religious occasions.
| Islamic Month | Arabic Script |
|---|---|
| Muharram | محرّم |
| Safar | صفر |
| Rabi al-Awwal | ربيع الأول |
| Rabi al-Thani | ربيع الثاني |
| Jumada al-Ula | جمادى الأولى |
| Jumada al-Thaniyah | جمادى الآخرة |
| Rajab | رجب |
| Sha’ban | شعبان |
| Ramadan | رمضان |
| Shawwal | شوال |
| Dhul Qa’dah | ذو القعدة |
| Dhul Hijjah | ذو الحجة |
The Hijri calendar determines important Islamic events such as:
- Ramadan fasting
- Eid al-Fitr
- Eid al-Adha
- Hajj pilgrimage
Calendars in the Arab World: Solar vs. Lunar Timekeeping
Arabic-speaking countries navigate time using two primary calendar systems—each deeply embedded in their own worldview and usage.
Gregorian Calendar (التقويم الميلادي)
- Type: Solar calendar
- Usage: Global civil use including government, business, and education.
- Structure: 12 months (mostly 30 or 31 days; February with 28/29).
Hijri Calendar (التقويم الهجري)
- Type: Lunar calendar
- Usage: Religious purposes including fasting, festivals, and pilgrimage.
- Structure: 12 lunar months, totaling 354 or 355 days.
Other region-specific calendars include:
- Coptic calendar in Egypt (13 months; rooted in ancient Egyptian agriculture),
- Berber calendar in North Africa (used for seasonal festivals),
- Assyrian calendar in Iraq (liturgical calendar among Christian communities).
These systems coexist, each offering a unique semantic frame and serving specific cultural and religious functions.
Related: Days Name in Arabic Language
Gregorian Months in Arabic: Familiar Yet Phonetically Adapted
The Arabic names of Gregorian months are loan translations—phonetically adapted from European languages but written in Arabic script. Here’s how they translate:
| English Month | Arabic Name | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| January | يناير | Yanāyir |
| February | فبراير | Fibrāyir |
| March | مارس | Māris |
| April | أبريل | Abrīl |
| May | مايو | Māyū |
| June | يونيو | Yūniyū |
| July | يوليو | Yūlyū |
| August | أغسطس | Aghusṭus |
| September | سبتمبر | Sibtambir |
| October | أكتوبر | Uktūbar |
| November | نوفمبر | Nūfambir |
| December | ديسمبر | Dīsambir |
Hijri Months in Arabic: Spiritual Echoes of the Lunar Cycle
The Islamic Hijri calendar is much more than a timekeeping system—it reflects a worldview aligned with natural lunar rhythms and spiritual milestones. Each month carries etymological significance, religious stories, and sociocultural meanings.
| Arabic Name | Transliteration | Meaning / Significance |
|---|---|---|
| مُحَرَّم | Muharram | Sacred month; martyrdom of Imam Hussain. |
| صَفَر | Ṣafar | “Empty” or “void” homes during ancient expeditions. |
| ربيع الأول | Rabi’ al-Awwal | “First Spring”; Prophet Muhammad’s birth. |
| ربيع الثاني | Rabi’ al-Thani | “Second Spring”; symbolizes renewal. |
| جمادى الأولى | Jumada al-Awwal | “Parched land”; dry season. |
| جمادى الآخرة | Jumada al-Thaniah | End of dry season; birth of Fatima Zahra. |
| رَجَب | Rajab | “Respect”; a sacred, non-violent month. |
| شَعْبَان | Sha’ban | “Dispersion”; preparation for Ramadan. |
| رَمَضَان | Ramadan | Month of fasting, revelation of the Quran. |
| شَوَّال | Shawwal | Marks Eid al-Fitr, celebration after fasting. |
| ذو القعدة | Dhu al-Qi’dah | “Sitting”; one of the sacred months of peace. |
| ذو الحجة | Dhu al-Hijjah | Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj); Eid al-Adha. |
💡 Why Learn the Arabic Month Names?
Understanding Arabic month names gives you more than vocabulary. It provides:
- Cultural fluency: Connecting with native speakers on local and religious topics.
- Spiritual awareness: Recognizing dates of key Islamic practices like Ramadan or Hajj.
- Linguistic expansion: Learning etymological roots and morphology of Arabic words.
- Global perspective: Appreciating how different societies conceptualize time.
For instance, the Hijri calendar’s emphasis on moon phases highlights a holistic, natural orientation to time—unlike the Western linear conception of progress.
📚 How to Memorize Arabic Months Easily
- Use Mnemonics: Link Arabic names to visuals or stories (e.g., Rajab = “Respect month” = hands raised in prayer).
- Practice with Native Media: Watch Arabic news, Islamic lectures, or follow a local calendar app.
- Flashcards with Audio: Reinforce pronunciation and script recognition.
- Compare & Contrast Calendars: Creating tables with English-Arabic equivalents helps.
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FAQs
What are the 12 months in Arabic?
The 12 Gregorian Arabic months are يناير, فبراير, مارس, أبريل, مايو, يونيو, يوليو, أغسطس, سبتمبر, أكتوبر, نوفمبر, ديسمبر.
How do you write January in Arabic?
January in Arabic is written as: يناير
Pronunciation: Yanāyir
Are Arabic months the same everywhere?
No. Gulf countries use transliterated Gregorian names, while Levant countries may use traditional Syriac month names.
What is the Arabic name for April?
April in Arabic is:
أبريل (Abrīl)
In some regions:
نيسان (Nīsān)
What are Islamic months called in Arabic?
Islamic months include:
Muharram, Safar, Rabi al-Awwal, Ramadan, Shawwal, and Dhul Hijjah.
How do Arabs say dates?
Dates are usually spoken as:
Day + Month + Year
Example:
15 May 2026
١٥ مايو ٢٠٢٦
What is the difference between Gregorian and Hijri months?
Gregorian months follow the solar calendar, while Hijri months follow the lunar Islamic calendar.
Is Ramadan a month in Arabic?
Yes. Ramadan (رمضان) is the ninth month of the Islamic Hijri calendar.
Conclusion
Learning the months in Arabic is one of the easiest and most practical ways to improve your Arabic vocabulary and cultural understanding. From everyday Gregorian calendar usage to important Islamic Hijri dates, Arabic month names connect language learners to the rich traditions, history, and daily life of the Arab world.
Whether you’re learning Arabic for travel, religion, education, or professional purposes, mastering the Arabic months names in English and Arabic will help you read dates confidently and communicate more naturally across Arabic-speaking countries.
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