When you start learning French, one of the first everyday topics you encounter is the seasons of the year. No matter what language you speak, it’s natural to talk about the weather, describe your favorite time of the year, or simply make small talk.
Even though the vocabulary seems simple, many beginners realize that using seasons in French correctly is not as straightforward as it looks. There are a few aspects that can feel confusing at first, but the good news is that once you understand the rules, everything becomes very clear.
In this guide, you’ll discover the names of the seasons, how to write and pronounce them, mistakes to avoid, and more. By the end, you’ll feel confident talking about them whether you’re discussing the weather or planning a trip to France.
What are the names for seasons in French
Just like in English, French has four seasons. All of them are masculine nouns and this grammatical detail is important to know. Also, it will become useful when you begin forming the sentences.
The 4 seasons in French are:
- Le printemps – spring
- L’été – summer
- L’automne – fall (autumn)
- L’hiver – winter
Before moving forward, it’s helpful to pay attention to a few pronunciation details. The final “s” in printemps is not pronounced even though it’s present there. Then, the “h” in hiver is silent and in été, bot “é” sounds are clearly pronounced.
It’s good to focus on pronunciation from the beginning because this will help you develop a more natural accent as you continue learning.
How do you write and spell the seasons in French
Spelling and formatting are sometimes overlooked by beginners. However, they’re essential if you want to write correctly and naturally in French. Even small details, for example capitalization or article usage, can show whether you understand basic grammar rules.
Let’s take a look at the key writing rules for seasons in French language:
- The seasons are not capitalized
For example, you write “J’aime le printemps” or “L’hiver est long cette année” without capitalization in the middle of a sentence. This rule applies in both formal and informal writing. When they appear at the beginning of a sentence, you use capitalization.
- A season in French usually takes an article
In most cases, when you refer to a season in a general sense, you use a definite article: le printemps, l’été, l’automne, l’hiver. This article is necessary because you’re speaking about the season as a general concept. Without it, the sentence would sound incomplete or unnatural in French.
- The use cases of the plural form
Sometimes, you may want to talk about seasons in a broader or more general way. For example, when you discuss habits, repeated patterns, or climate trends over several years, you can use the plural form. So, the structure of the seasons would be les hivers, les étés, les printemps and so on.
How to use French seasons in sentences
One of the most important grammar points is how you say “in” a season. In English the preposition is the same for all seasons, but in French the preposition changes. So, if you want to say “In Summer”, you will say “En été”.
The preposition “en” is used before a vowel sound or a silent h, so this applies for the seasons that start with a vowel. The difference appears in the French word for spring season, therefore it will be “Au printemps”. That’s because this word starts with a consonant sound.
Now, the seasons are often used in sentences that describe the weather, and that talk about preferences or activities. A few everyday expressions might be:
- En hiver, il fait froid – in winter, it is cold
- En automne, les feuilles tombent – in autumn, the leaves fall
- Ma saison préférée est l’été – my favorite season is summer
- Au printemps, les fleurs commencent à pousser – in spring, the flowers begin to grow
Common mistakes to avoid with seasons in French
The names of the seasons are easy to memorize, but using them correctly requires attention to detail. Many learners make small but noticeable mistakes, especially when speaking or writing quickly. Understanding these common errors will help you sound more confident in French, and also more natural to native speakers.
Here’re the most frequent mistakes:
- Capitalizing seasons unnecessarily
- Pronouncing the final “s” in printemps
- Pronouncing the “h” in hiver
- Forgetting that all four seasons in French are masculine
How the seasons in France differ by region
In France you’ll find four seasons which can be experienced differently depending on where you are in the country. Climate is influenced by geography, including mountains, coastlines, and proximity to water. For example, the Atlantic Ocean influences the west, while the Mediterranean Sea affects the south.
Because of these influences, the seasons don’t feel the same everywhere. If you come to France within a French immersion program and stay with a teacher in the south region, you might expect an easy winter and a hot, dry summer.
For a better understanding, the table below shows how the French seasons and weather differ across the country:
| Region | Cold season (Autumn and Winter) | Warm season (Spring and Summer) |
| North (Normandy) | Cold, often grey and rainy. Snowfall is possible, but usually light | Mild summers with moderate temperatures and limited extreme heat |
| West (Brittany, Bordeaux) | Mild but humid and windy due to Atlantic influence | Comfortable summers with moderate and balanced temperatures |
| East (the Alps) | Colder winters with frequent snow, especially in mountainous areas | Wamr summers that can be sunny and sometimes quite hot |
| South (Provence, Marseille) | Mild winters influenced by the Mediterranean climate, with more sunshine | Hot and very sunny summers, often with high temperatures |
This also helps you understand and use correctly seasonal vocabulary in a specific context. For example, when talking about the spring months in French, you can explain how these months feel depending on the region.
What are the months for all French seasons of the year
Now that you understand the seasons themselves, how to write them and how to pronounce them, it’s helpful to know which months belong to each season. This makes it easier to describe different aspects regarding them in everyday conversations.
Here’re are the months for all seasons of the year in French:
- Spring: mars (March), avril (April), mai (May)
- Summer: juin (June), juillet (July), août (August)
- Autumn: septembre (September), octobre (October), novembre (November)
- Winter: décembre (December), janvier (January), février (February)
Practice seasons in French and become an expert
As you’ve seen, there are a few key things to know about how to write the seasons and how to pronounce them in French. You can successfully learn how to do this by practicing as much as you can. Use them in short sentences about daily life, talk about your favorite season, describe the weather in the region you’ve visited, and so on.
Now you know what are the seasons in French and with these foundations in place, you can start talking about them with confidence. Keep practicing, stay curious, and your French will continue to improve.
