Portuguese Phrase
Janeiro é o primeiro mês.
Meaning
The sentence states a factual piece of information: January is the first month of the year. It uses the verb ser to define a permanent attribute of the month.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are introducing the calendar, teaching the order of months, or talking about New Year celebrations and planning events that start in January.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Janeiroéoprimeiromês.
Janeiro
Proper noun for the month of January; months are capitalized in Portuguese.
é
Third‑person singular of the verb ser (to be) used for permanent characteristics or definitions.
o
Definite article (masculine singular) that agrees with the noun mês.
primeiro
Ordinal adjective meaning ‘first’; it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
mês
Masculine noun meaning ‘month’; the article o makes it clear it is a specific month.
🗨In Conversation
Janeiro é o primeiro mês.
January is the first month.
Sim, e fevereiro vem logo depois.
Yes, and February comes right after.
✕Common Mistakes
Janeiro está o primeiro mês.
Use ser (é) for permanent facts like the order of months, not estar which describes temporary states.
Janeiro é o primeira mês.
Mês is masculine, so the ordinal must be masculine (primeiro), not feminine (primeira).
Janeiro é primeiro mês.
Dropping the article makes the sentence sound incomplete in Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Janeiro é o mês número um.
January is month number one.
Janeiro, o primeiro mês do ano, traz o verão no Brasil.
January, the first month of the year, brings summer in Brazil.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, January marks the height of summer and is celebrated with big festas de Réveillon (New Year’s Eve parties) on beaches, especially in Rio de Janeiro. While the sentence is grammatically simple, you’ll often hear it in contexts like school lessons about the calendar or when people talk about holiday plans.