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December
#13
December is the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar. In Arabic, it is called 'ديسمبر' (Deesember) in Modern Standard Arabic and most dialects, or 'كانون الأول' (Kanun al-Awwal) meaning 'first of Kanun' in Levantine Arabic and other dialects. This word is used to refer to the month when discussing dates, seasons, and annual events.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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عيد الميلاد يوم خمسة وعشرين من ديسمبر.
Eid al-Milad yawm khamsah wa-ishreen min Deesember.
Christmas is on the twenty-fifth of December.
سأسافر إلى باريس في ديسمبر للاحتفال بنهاية السنة.
Sa-asafir ila Baris fi Deesember lil-ihtifal bi-nihayat al-sanah.
I will travel to Paris in December to celebrate the end of the year.
الطقس بارد جداً في ديسمبر في البلدان الأوروبية.
Al-taws barid jiddan fi Deesember fi al-bildan al-Urubbiyyah.
The weather is very cold in December in European countries.
كانون الأول هو شهر الأعياد والاحتفالات في الشرق الأوسط.
Kanun al-Awwal huwa shahr al-a'yaad wa-l-ihtifaalat fi al-Sharq al-Awsat.
December (Kanun al-Awwal) is the month of holidays and celebrations in the Middle East.
في ديسمبر من كل سنة نحتفل برأس السنة الميلادية.
Fi Deesember min kul sanah nhtafil bi-ra's al-sanah al-Miladiyyah.
Every December we celebrate the new year of the Gregorian calendar.
December holds significant cultural importance across the Arab world, marking both the end of the calendar year and various religious and secular celebrations. While the Gregorian calendar is widely used in modern Arabic-speaking countries for international commerce and communication, some Arabic-speaking regions still reference the Islamic calendar or traditional Arabic month names. December 25th Christmas celebrations and New Year's Eve festivities have become increasingly common in urban Arab centers, though their observance varies by country and religious context.
When writing dates in Arabic, December can be written as either 'ديسمبر' (used throughout Modern Standard Arabic and most Arab media) or 'كانون الأول' (particularly in Levantine contexts including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan). Both forms are correct and understood across the Arab world. Always pair the month name with the date number (e.g., '15 ديسمبر' for December 15th) and the year if needed. In formal writing, you may see abbreviated forms like 'ديس.' or 'كا. أول'.
December is known as 'ديسمبر' (Deesember) in Modern Standard Arabic and contemporary Arabic usage. This transliteration of the English/Latin month name has become the standard way to refer to the twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar throughout most Arabic-speaking regions, from the Maghreb to the Gulf.
While ديسمبر is widely understood and used across the Arab world, certain regions maintain traditional names. In Levantine Arabic (spoken in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan), December is often called 'كانون الأول' (Kanun al-Awwal), which literally means 'the first of Kanun.' This historical naming system, inherited from Aramaic through Ottoman Turkish, is still used in formal contexts and by older generations, though the Gregorian calendar's influence means younger speakers increasingly use ديسمبر.
December represents the final month of the Gregorian calendar year and carries multiple layers of significance in Arab culture. As winter deepens in the Northern Hemisphere, December brings cooler weather to the Levantine region and North Africa. The month is marked by several important observances, including New Year's Eve celebrations and Christmas, which is recognized in Christian Arab communities and increasingly celebrated secularly in urban areas across the Arab world.
The Islamic calendar, based on lunar months, does not align with the Gregorian calendar, so December changes which Islamic month it corresponds to each year. This creates an interesting duality where Arabic speakers navigate between two calendar systems—the Islamic lunar calendar for religious observances and the Gregorian solar calendar for international business and civil administration.
When expressing dates in December, Arabic follows the pattern of number + month name. For example, '15 ديسمبر' (15 Deesember) or 'كانون الأول 15' in Levantine contexts. The year can be added with 'سنة' (sanah/year): 'ديسمبر 25، 2024' (December 25, 2024).
Common time expressions include:
In contemporary Arabic media, education, and international communication, ديسمبر is the standard term taught in schools and used in newspapers, weather forecasts, and official documents. Learning to recognize both ديسمبر and كانون الأول is beneficial for students of Arabic, as it enhances understanding of regional dialects and historical texts. However, for Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) and general Arabic communication, ديسمبر is the form you should master and use.
To build a complete understanding of the Arabic calendar, learners should familiarize themselves with all twelve months: نوفمبر (November), يناير (January), فبراير (February), مارس (March), أبريل (April), مايو (May), يونيو (June), يوليو (July), أغسطس (August), سبتمبر (September), and أكتوبر (October).
Practice using December in sentences about holiday plans, weather conditions, and dates to solidify your understanding of this essential vocabulary for Arabic learners.