German Phrase
Der Januar ist der erste Monat.
Meaning
This phrase identifies the starting point of the calendar year. It uses the masculine article 'der' for the month and the ordinal number 'erste' to denote its position.
When to use
Use this sentence when explaining the calendar, teaching basic German vocabulary, or discussing chronological sequences. It is a standard introductory phrase for language learners.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Der Januaristder ersteMonat
Gender of Months
All months in German are masculine, so they always take the article 'der'.
Ordinal Adjectives
The word 'erste' (first) acts as an adjective here and takes the '-e' ending to match the masculine nominative noun 'Monat'.
🗨In Conversation
Welcher Monat kommt zuerst im Kalender?
Which month comes first in the calendar?
Der Januar ist der erste Monat.
January is the first month.
✕Common Mistakes
Januar ist der erste Monat.
In German, months are typically preceded by the definite article 'der' in this context.
Der Januar ist das erste Monat.
'Monat' is a masculine noun, so it requires the masculine article 'der' rather than the neuter 'das'.
↔Alternatives
Das Jahr fängt mit dem Januar an.
The year starts with January.
Januar ist der erste Monat des Jahres.
January is the first month of the year.
Cultural Tip
In German-speaking countries, the week usually starts on Monday, but the calendar year strictly follows the Gregorian system starting in January. When writing dates, Germans use a day-month-year format, often separated by dots.