French Phrase
Janvier, c'est le premier mois.
Meaning
This phrase identifies January as the starting point of the calendar year. It uses the common French structure of stating a subject followed by 'c'est' to provide a definition or characteristic.
When to use
Use this phrase in educational settings, when discussing the calendar, or when practicing basic French sentence structures. It is a fundamental sentence for beginners learning time-related vocabulary.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Janvierc'estlepremiermois
C'est
A contraction of 'ce' (this/it) and 'est' (is), used to identify or define a noun.
Premier
The masculine form of 'first'. It must agree with the masculine noun 'mois'.
🗨In Conversation
Quel est le début de l'année ?
What is the start of the year?
Janvier, c'est le premier mois.
January, it is the first month.
✕Common Mistakes
Janvier est le premier mois.
While not grammatically incorrect, using 'c'est' is the more natural, idiomatic way to define a subject in spoken French.
Janvier, c'est la première mois.
The word 'mois' is masculine, so you must use the masculine article 'le' and the masculine adjective 'premier'.
↔Alternatives
Le premier mois de l'année est janvier.
The first month of the year is January.
L'année commence en janvier.
The year begins in January.
Cultural Tip
In French, names of months like 'janvier' are generally not capitalized unless they start a sentence. This differs from English where months are always proper nouns. New Year's Day, 'le jour de l'An', is a major public holiday in France often celebrated with a family meal.