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" 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 or names which are borrowed from the Gregorian calendar, but they have been included here nonetheless.
In Latvian and Lithuanian, 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 Balto-Slavic linguistic unity. Latvian and Lithuanian names are also shown in this table for comparison.
Words are colored according to etymology.
LanguageJanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
Belarusian

studzen′


ljuty
sakavik
krasavik
čèrven′
lipen′
žniven′
verasen′
kastryčnik
listapad
snežan′
Belarusian

studzen′


ljuty
sakavik
krasavik
traven′
čèrven′
lipen′
žniven′
verasen′
kastryčnik
listapad
snežan′
Ukrainian
sičeń
ljutyj
berezen′
kviten′
traven′
červen′
lypen′
serpen′
veresen′
žovten′
lystopad
hruden′
Ukrainian
sičeń
ljuten’
berezen′
kviten′
traven′
červen′
lypen′
serpen′
veresen′
žovten′
lystopad
hruden′
Rusyn
sičeń
ljutyj
berezen′
cviten′
traven′
červen′
lypen′
serpen′
veresen′
žolten′
lystopad
hruden′
Russian
archaic
sečenʹ
ljutenʹ
berezozol

cvetenʹ
traven′
červen′

lipec
serpen′
veresen′

listopad
grudenʹ
studenʹ
Old East Slavic
studěnʹ
snežěnʹ
suhij
berězolŭ
travěnʹ
čěrvěnʹ
lipenʹ
sěrpěnʹ
versěnʹ
osenʹ
listopadŭ
gruděnʹ
Old Church Slavonic
prosinĭcĭ
sěčĭnŭ
suhŭ
brězĭnŭ
trěvĭnŭ
izokŭ
črŭvljenyi
zarevŭ
ruinŭ
listopadŭ
grudĭnŭ
studenŭ
Bulgarian
archaic
sečen
ljuti
suhi
brezen
treven
izok
červen
zarev
ruen
listopad
gruden
prosinec
Macedonian
archaic
koložeg
sečko
cutar
treven
kosar
žetvar
zlatec
žitar
grozdober
listopad
studen
snežnik
Serbian
archaic
koložeg
sečko
derikoža
lažitrava
cvetanj
trešnjar
žetvar
gumnik
grozdober
listopad
studen
Croatian
listopad
Slovene
archaic
Slovak
archaic		veľký sečeňmalý sečeňbrezen
duben
květen
lipen
klasen
srpen
malý rujenveľký rujenmrazen
Slovak
archaic		ľadeňsečeňbrezen
duben
květen
lipen
klasen
srpen
malý rujenveľký rujenmrazen
Czechledenúnorbřezenduben
květen
červenčervenecsrpen
záříříjenprosinec
Polishstyczeńlutykwiecieńczerwieclipiecsierpieńwrzesieńpaździernikgrudzień
Polishstyczeńlutybrzezień kwiecieńtrawień czerwieclipiecsierpieńwrzesieńpaździernikgrudzień
Polishstyczeńlutybrzezień łżykwiat trawień czerwieclipiecsierpieńwrzesieńpaździernikgrudzień
Kashubianstëcznikgromicznikstrëmiannikłżëkwiatczerwińclëpińczélnikséwnikrujanlëstopadnikgòdnik
Kashubianstëczniklutistrëmiannikkwiecéńczerwińcmiodownikserzpiéńwrzeseńpazdzérzniklëstopadnikgrëdzéń
Upper Sorbian
archaic		wulki róžkmały róžknalětnikjutrownikróžowniksmažnikpražnikžnjencpožnjencwinowcnazymnikhodownik
Lower Sorbian
archaic		wezymskiswěckownypózymskijatšownikrozhelonysmažkižnjojskijacmjeńskipožnjencwinskimłośnyzymski
Polabian
extinct		ledemånrüzaczürmånchåidemånlaisemånpąťustemånzeminikhaimånjisinmånvaińamånzaimamåntrübnemån
Lithuanian
non-Slavic		sausisvasariskovasbalandisgegužėbirželislieparugpjūtisrugsėjisspalislapkritisgruodis
Latvian
archaic, non-Slavic		ziemassvečusērsnusululapuzieduliepurudzuviršu
veļusalnasvilku

* word of non-Slavic or non-Baltic origin

Croatian months

The Croatian months used with the Gregorian calendar by Croats differ from the original Latin month names. While subject to variation over the earlier centuries, their names and order have been standardised in 1830s through the efforts of the Illyrian movement and its chief linguist Vjekoslav Babukić.
No.Latin nameEnglish nameCroatian nameEtymology
1IanuariusJanuarysijȇčanjfrom cutting or hewing wood but there are also dialectal terms svečan, svičen, sičan that have a meaning 'festive', so there is a possibility of a meaning 'festive month'
2FebruariusFebruaryvèljačamonth in which days become longer, oveljiti se = to get bigger; or to wallow, to roll valjati, to indicate unstable weather
3MartiusMarchòžujaklying month, because the weather changes often
4AprilisApriltrȃvanjfrom growing grass, trava
5MaiusMaysvȋbanjfrom budding Cornel tree svib
6IuniusJunelȋpanjfrom linden tree, lipa
7IuliusJulysȓpanjfrom reaping with a sickle, srp
8AugustusAugustkȍlovōzfrom driving a wagon — wheel kolo + drive voz
9SeptemberSeptemberrȗjanfrom an archaic verb for deer roaring or from a poetic word for blushing, rosy
10OctoberOctoberlȉstopādfrom falling leaves — leaf list + fall padati
11NovemberNovemberstùdenīfrom cold, studen
12DecemberDecemberpròsinacthe beginning of the Sun's shining, to dawn sinuti; or from sinji, greyish blue color

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 nameEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryledenFrom led, "ice".
2.FebruariusFebruaryúnorProbably from the word root -nor-, infinitive form nořit , "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.
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, but quickly gained acceptance. Jungmann was probably also influenced by the Polish word kwiecień.
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. 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

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 nameTransliterationEtymology
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 nameEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuarystyczeńInherited from Old Polish sieczeń, from Proto-Slavic *sěčьnь, derived from Proto-Slavic *sěča, from Proto-Slavic *sěťi, with -ty- possibly by influence from the word tyka.
2.FebruariusFebruarylutyInherited from Old Polish luty, from Proto-Slavic *ľutъ.
3.MartiusMarchmarzecBorrowed from Middle High German marz, from Old High German merzo, from Latin Mārtius. Displaced Old Polish brzezień.
4.AprilisAprilkwiecieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *květьnь, derived from Proto-Slavic *květъ. Diplaced Old Polish łżykwiat.
5.MaiusMaymajBorrowed from Latin Maius. Diplaced Old Polish trawień.
6.IuniusJuneczerwiecInherited from Old Polish czyrwiec. By surface analysis, from czerw + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish czyrwień possibly under influence of marzec and later lipiec.
7.IuliusJulylipiecInherited from Proto-Slavic *lipьcь. By surface analysis, from lipa + -iec. Diplaced Old Polish lipień.
8.AugustusAugustsierpieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *sŕ̥pьnь. By surface analysis, from sierp + -eń.
9.SeptemberSeptemberwrzesieńDerived from wrzos + -eń.
10.OctoberOctoberpaździernikDerived from paździerz + -nik.
11.NovemberNovemberlistopadInherited from Proto-Slavic *listopadъ. By surface analysis, from liść + -o- + padać.
12.DecemberDecembergrudzieńInherited from Proto-Slavic *grudьnъ. By surface analysis, from gruda + -eń.

Russian months

The names of Russian months are used with the Gregorian calendar by the 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 nameEnglish nameRussian CyrillicRussian LatinRussian name TransliterationEtymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryЯнварьJanvar'СеченьSečen'Month of cutting wood
2.FebruariusFebruaryФевральFevral'ЛютеньLjuten'Month of harshing
3.MartiusMarchМартMartБерeзозолBerezozolMonth of birch
4.AprilisAprilАпрельAprel'Цветень Cveten'Month of blossoming
5.MaiusMayМайMajТравеньTraven'Month of grass
6.IuniusJuneИюньIjun'ЧервеньČerven'Month of gules
7.IuliusJulyИюльIjul'Липец LipecMonth of linden tree
8.AugustusAugustАвгустAvgustСерпеньSerpen'Month of sickle
9.SeptemberSeptemberСентябрьSentjabr'ВересеньVeresen'Month of heather
10.OctoberOctoberОктябрьOktjabr'Листопад ListopadMonth of leaves falling
11.NovemberNovemberНоябрьNojabr'ГруденьGruden'Month of heap
12.DecemberDecemberДекабрьDekabr'СтуденьStuden'Month of cold

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.
No.Latin nameEnglish nameSlovene nameSlovene name Etymology
1.IanuariusJanuaryjanuarprosinec' shining through';
2.FebruariusFebruaryfebruarsvečanperhaps 'dry' or 'cut' ;
3.MartiusMarchmarecsušec' dry ';
4.AprilisAprilaprilmali traven'small grass';
5.MaiusMaymajveliki traven'large grass';
6.IuniusJunejunijrožnik'flowers' ;
7.IuliusJulyjulijmali srpan'small sickle' ;
8.AugustusAugustavgustveliki srpan'large sickle' ;
9.SeptemberSeptemberseptemberkimavec'nodding ';
10.OctoberOctoberoktobervinotok'wine flowing' ;
11.NovemberNovembernovemberlistopad'falling leaves';
12.DecemberDecemberdecembergruden'biting ' or 'clumped ';

Ukrainian months

The names of Ukrainian months are not based on the Latin names used in most European languages. Latin names are not used at all, though it's possible to hear distorted versions of Russian or Polish names in surzhyk sometimes. The suffix -ень is added to most of the months' names.