French Phrase
Les vacances, c'est en décembre.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that the holiday period takes place in December. It’s often used when talking about school breaks, public holidays, or personal vacation plans.
When to use
Use this phrase to answer questions like "When are the holidays?" or to state the time of a scheduled break, especially in conversations about school calendars or family travel plans.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lesvacances,c'estendécembre.
Article + Plural Noun
"Les" is the definite article used with plural nouns like "vacances".
c'est for Identification
"c'est" introduces or identifies a concept; it can replace "elles sont" in informal speech.
Preposition en + Month
Use "en" before months (e.g., "en décembre") to indicate when something occurs.
Comma for Emphasis
The comma after "vacances" adds a slight pause, emphasizing the statement.
🗨In Conversation
Quand est‑ce que les vacances d'hiver commencent ?
When do the winter holidays start?
Les vacances, c'est en décembre.
The holidays are in December.
✕Common Mistakes
Les vacances, ils sont en décembre.
Use "c'est" for a simple identification; "ils sont" sounds unnatural here.
Les vacances, c'est à décembre.
Months are introduced with "en," not "à."
En les vacances, c'est décembre.
The article comes before the noun, not after the preposition.
↔Alternatives
Les vacances sont en décembre.
The holidays are in December.
On part en vacances en décembre.
We go on vacation in December.
Les congés sont prévus pour décembre.
The holidays are scheduled for December.
Cultural Tip
In France, the school winter break (les vacances d'hiver) varies by region but usually starts in early December, coinciding with the Christmas holidays. While "c'est" is perfectly natural in spoken French, more formal writing often prefers "les vacances sont en décembre."