Italian Phrase
Gennaio è il primo mese.
Meaning
This sentence identifies January as the start of the calendar year. It combines a month name with the verb 'essere' and an ordinal number to state a chronological fact.
When to use
Use this phrase when teaching or learning the months of the year, discussing the calendar, or practicing basic Italian sentence structure. It is a common foundational sentence for beginners.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Gennaioèilprimomese
Essere (è)
The verb 'è' is the third-person singular of 'essere' (to be), used to define the subject.
Ordinal Numbers
'Primo' means 'first' and must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, in this case, the masculine singular 'mese'.
🗨In Conversation
Qual è il primo mese dell'anno?
What is the first month of the year?
Gennaio è il primo mese.
January is the first month.
✕Common Mistakes
Gennaio è lo primo mese.
The definite article for 'primo' is 'il', as it starts with a consonant cluster that does not require 'lo'.
Il Gennaio è il primo mese.
In Italian, you generally do not use the definite article before months when they are the subject of a general statement like this.
↔Alternatives
Il primo mese dell'anno è gennaio.
The first month of the year is January.
L'anno inizia a gennaio.
The year begins in January.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, months are typically written in lowercase letters unless they start a sentence. January 1st (Capodanno) is a major public holiday, followed shortly by the Epiphany on January 6th, which is culturally significant for Italian children.