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december

A1 noun 11 min read

december

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips december in 30 Seconds

Explanation december in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'december' is the Dutch word for the twelfth month of the year. It is one of the easiest words to learn because it is almost exactly the same as in English. The most important rule to remember at this beginning stage is that you should not use a capital letter. In Dutch, we write 'december', not 'December'. You will use this word to talk about your birthday ('Ik ben jarig in december'), the current date ('Het is vandaag 10 december'), or simple weather observations ('In december is het koud'). You should also know that the holidays Sinterklaas (December 5) and Kerstmis (December 25 and 26) happen in this month. Practice saying the word clearly: focus on the 's' sound for the letter 'c' and make sure you pronounce the 'r' at the end. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on using it with the preposition 'in' for the month and 'op' for specific days.

As an A2 learner, you can start using 'december' in more complete sentences and understand its role in Dutch culture. You should be able to talk about your plans for the month, such as 'In december ga ik naar mijn familie' (In December I am going to my family). You will also encounter 'december' in simple compound words like 'decembermaand'. At this level, you should be comfortable using inversion when a sentence starts with the month: 'In december vier ik mijn verjaardag.' You should also learn that the Dutch celebrate two days of Christmas: 'Eerste Kerstdag' (December 25) and 'Tweede Kerstdag' (December 26). When you hear people talk about 'de feestdagen', they almost always mean the period in december. You can also start using 'begin december' (early December) and 'eind december' (late December) to be more specific about timing in your conversations.

At the B1 level, your use of 'december' becomes more nuanced. you will understand the word in the context of Dutch traditions like 'pakjesavond' and 'oud en nieuw'. You should be able to describe the atmosphere of the month using more varied vocabulary, such as 'gezelligheid' or 'donkere dagen'. You will also notice 'december' appearing in more formal contexts, such as work emails regarding 'vrije dagen' (days off) or the 'jaarafsluiting' (year-end closing). You should be able to use the word in complex sentences with subclauses, for example: 'Hoewel het in december vaak regent, vind ik de sfeer in de stad erg prettig' (Although it often rains in December, I find the atmosphere in the city very pleasant). You will also understand the use of 'december' as a qualifier in terms like 'decemberzegels' or 'decemberacties' (special sales in December). Your pronunciation should be more refined, correctly handling the Dutch 'r' and the vowels.

At the B2 level, you are expected to understand the broader social and economic implications of 'december' in the Netherlands. You might read articles about 'de decemberdrukte' (the December hustle) in retail or the environmental impact of 'vuurwerk' (fireworks) at the end of the month. You should be able to participate in discussions about Dutch traditions, comparing 'december' celebrations in the Netherlands with those in your home country. You will encounter the word in idiomatic expressions or more literary descriptions of winter. You should also be comfortable using 'december' in the possessive or with the definite article for specific historical references: 'De december van 2010 was ongewoon sneeuwrijk.' Your writing should reflect a perfect grasp of the lowercase rule and the correct use of prepositions in all contexts, including formal reports and creative storytelling.

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the cultural and linguistic layers of the word 'december'. You can appreciate how the word is used in Dutch literature and poetry to evoke specific moods. You understand the historical evolution of the month's name and its place in the Dutch calendar reform. You can follow complex debates on the radio about 'decembertradities' and the evolving nature of holidays like Sinterklaas. In a professional environment, you use 'december' with ease in the context of fiscal year-end procedures and strategic planning for the upcoming year. You might use more sophisticated alternatives like 'de laatste maand van het jaar' or 'de wintermaand' to vary your style. Your grasp of the word is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker, including the subtle social cues associated with 'de decemberborrel' and other end-of-year rituals.

At the C2 level, 'december' is a word you use with total mastery, incorporating it into complex rhetorical structures and highly specialized contexts. You can analyze the etymology of the word and its cognates across Germanic and Romance languages. You are aware of the regional variations in how december is celebrated across the Dutch-speaking world, from the Randstad to rural Flanders. You can write high-level academic or journalistic pieces that discuss the sociological significance of the 'feestmaand' or the economic data associated with 'decemberomzetten' (December turnovers). You understand the most obscure literary references to the month and can use the word with irony, humor, or profound gravity as needed. For you, 'december' is not just a calendar entry but a rich concept that you can manipulate with linguistic precision and cultural depth.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

december in 30 Seconds

December is the 12th month of the year in Dutch, written as 'december' without a capital letter unless it starts a sentence.
It is a 'de-word' (masculine) and uses the preposition 'in' for the month and 'op' for specific days of the month.
The month is central to Dutch culture due to Sinterklaas (Dec 5), Christmas (Dec 25-26), and New Year's Eve (Dec 31).
Pronunciation involves a soft 's' sound for the 'c' and a clear 'r' at the end, sounding similar to English but with Dutch phonetics.

The Dutch word december refers to the twelfth and final month of the Gregorian calendar. For English speakers, the word is an easy cognate, as it sounds and looks almost identical to its English counterpart. However, a significant orthographic difference exists: in Dutch, the names of months are not capitalized unless they appear at the very beginning of a sentence. This is a common point of confusion for learners who are used to the English convention of always capitalizing months. The word is categorized as a 'de-word' (masculine), although the definite article is rarely used in daily conversation unless you are referring to a specific, characterized December, such as 'de koude december van vorig jaar' (the cold December of last year).

Grammatical Gender: Masculine (de december), though articles are frequently omitted in temporal expressions.
Capitalization Rule: Always lowercase (december) unless starting a sentence, unlike the English 'December'.
Phonetic Nuance: The 'c' is pronounced as a sharp 's' sound, and the 'e' sounds are distinct and clear.

In the Netherlands and Belgium, december is often referred to as the 'feestmaand' (festive month) because of the density of holidays. It begins with the anticipation of Sinterklaas on December 5th, moves into the Christmas preparations (Kerstmis), and concludes with the explosive celebrations of New Year's Eve (Oud en Nieuw). When you use this word, you are often invoking a sense of 'gezelligheid'—that uniquely Dutch concept of coziness, warmth, and social belonging that defines the dark winter days.

Het is vandaag de eerste van december.

Beyond the calendar, the word carries connotations of reflection and the end of a cycle. Businesses focus on 'jaarafsluiting' (year-end closing), and individuals often look back on the past twelve months. In terms of weather, december in the Low Countries is typically grey, wet, and chilly, though the occasional 'witte kerst' (white Christmas) remains a nostalgic dream for many. Understanding how to use this word involves more than just knowing its place in the calendar; it involves understanding the rhythm of Dutch life during the shortest days of the year.

Wij gaan in december op vakantie naar de bergen.

De hele maand december staat in het teken van familie.

Sinterklaas komt op vijf december langs bij de kinderen.

Eind december vieren we het nieuwe jaar met vuurwerk.

Common Collocation: Begin december (early December), midden december (mid-December), eind december (late December).
Cultural Event: Pakjesavond (Gift Night) is the highlight of early december for Dutch families.

Using the word december in Dutch sentences requires an understanding of time prepositions and the specific syntax of dates. When you want to say something happens in December, you use the preposition 'in'. For example, 'In december is het vaak koud' (In December it is often cold). If you are referring to a specific day within the month, you use the preposition 'op'. For example, 'Op 25 december vieren we Kerstmis' (On December 25th we celebrate Christmas). Notice that the ordinal number '25th' is simply written as '25' in Dutch dates, and the word 'december' remains lowercase.

Standard Preposition: Use 'in' for the month itself: 'In december zijn de dagen kort.'
Specific Dates: Use 'op' for specific days: 'Op vijf december is het Sinterklaas.'

Dutch sentence structure often places the time element at the beginning for emphasis, which triggers an inversion of the subject and verb. If you start with 'In december', the verb must come next: 'In december gaan wij naar de kerstmarkt' (In December we go to the Christmas market). This is a vital rule for English speakers to master, as English does not typically invert the subject and verb in this way. Furthermore, when describing the duration of the entire month, phrases like 'de hele maand december' (the whole month of December) are common. You might say, 'De hele maand december hangen er lichtjes in de stad.'

Vanaf half december hebben de meeste scholen vakantie.

Another interesting aspect is the use of 'december' in compound words or as an adjective-like noun. While Dutch often creates long compound words, 'december' is usually kept separate in phrases like 'decembermaand' (December month) or 'decemberzegels' (special December postage stamps for Christmas cards). When you talk about the atmosphere, you might hear 'de decemberse kou' (the December-like cold), where the noun is transformed into an adjective using the '-se' suffix. This adds a descriptive layer to your Dutch, allowing you to evoke the specific feeling of the month.

Kunnen we de afspraak verplaatsen naar begin december?

De winkels zijn in december extra lang open voor kerstinkopen.

Het weer in december is vaak onvoorspelbaar in Nederland.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might see 'december' used with the definite article to personify the month or highlight its unique character during a specific year. 'De december van 1963 staat bekend als een van de koudste ooit.' Here, the article 'de' specifies that we are talking about a very particular instance of the month. In everyday speech, however, 'december' stands alone as a temporal marker. Whether you are scheduling a meeting, planning a party, or describing the weather, mastering these sentence patterns will make your Dutch sound natural and precise.

You will hear the word december everywhere in the Netherlands and Flanders as the year draws to a close. It is a staple of news broadcasts, weather reports, and commercial advertisements. In the media, journalists often discuss 'de dure decembermaand' (the expensive month of December), referring to the increased spending on gifts and food. Radio stations, particularly NPO Radio 2 in the Netherlands, talk about december constantly in the lead-up to the 'Top 2000', a massive countdown of the most popular songs of all time that plays from Christmas until New Year's Eve.

In a professional setting, you will hear 'december' during end-of-year evaluations and planning sessions. Colleagues might ask, 'Ben je vrij in december?' (Are you off in December?) or mention the 'decemberborrel' (the December office drinks/party). The word is synonymous with deadlines and the rush to finish projects before the holiday break. In schools, children count down the days in december for the arrival of Sinterklaas and the subsequent two-week 'kerstvakantie' (Christmas vacation).

Op de radio hoor je in december alleen maar kerstmuziek.

If you visit a Dutch city in december, you will hear the word used by vendors at 'oliebollenkramen' (stalls selling traditional deep-fried dough balls) and at Christmas markets. Public transport announcements might mention adjusted schedules 'tijdens de feestdagen in december'. The word is also frequently used in weather forecasts to describe 'de donkere dagen voor Kerst' (the dark days before Christmas), a phrase that captures the atmospheric quality of the month when the sun sets early and the streets are lit with festive lights.

Furthermore, in the context of Dutch traditions, 'december' is the period of 'Sinterklaasgedichten' (Sinterklaas poems) and 'surprises' (elaborate handmade gift wrappings). People will say, 'We vieren het dit jaar op vijf december.' In the hospitality industry, restaurants will advertise their 'decembermenu', featuring seasonal ingredients like 'wild' (game meat) and 'speculaas'. The word is woven into the social fabric of the winter season, representing both the stress of preparation and the joy of celebration.

In de supermarkt liggen de pepernoten al ver voor december in de schappen.

Finally, the word is central to the Dutch 'goede voornemens' (New Year's resolutions) culture. As december ends, you will hear people discussing their plans for the coming year. 'In december eet ik nog wat ik wil, maar in januari begin ik met mijn dieet!' (In December I still eat what I want, but in January I start my diet!). This cyclical use of the word reinforces its role as the ultimate transition point in the Dutch calendar.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make when writing december is capitalizing it. In English, months are proper nouns and always start with an uppercase letter. In Dutch, months are common nouns. Writing 'December' in the middle of a Dutch sentence is a clear sign of an English-influenced error. Always remember: 'Het is vandaag 1 december' (lowercase), not '1 December'.

Mistake: Capitalization: Incorrect: 'Ik ben in December jarig.' Correct: 'Ik ben in december jarig.'
Mistake: Using 'op' for the month: Incorrect: 'Op december is het koud.' Correct: 'In december is het koud.'

Another common error involves the pronunciation of the letter 'c'. In some languages, 'c' can have various sounds, but in 'december', it is always a soft 's' sound (like in 'cent'). Some learners might mistakenly use a 'k' sound or a 'ch' sound, but the Dutch pronunciation is strictly /de-SEM-ber/. Additionally, English speakers often struggle with the 'r' at the end. While in English the 'r' might be silent or rhotic depending on the dialect, in Dutch, it should be clearly pronounced, often as a slight trill or a voiced uvular fricative.

Veel mensen schrijven december foutief met een hoofdletter door de invloed van het Engels.

Prepositional errors are also frequent. As mentioned earlier, use 'in' for the month and 'op' for the specific date. Saying 'Ik kom op december' sounds like you are literally standing on top of the month. Furthermore, when using dates, Dutch does not use ordinal suffixes like '-st', '-nd', or '-th'. Writing '25ste december' is possible but much less common than simply writing '25 december'. In spoken Dutch, however, people do say 'de vijfentwintigste', so the confusion between written and spoken forms is understandable.

Lastly, be careful with the plural form. While 'decembers' (with an 's') is the correct plural, it is rarely used. You would only use it when comparing multiple Decembers over several years, such as 'De laatste drie decembers waren erg zacht' (The last three Decembers were very mild). Using the plural when you mean a single month is a mistake to avoid. By paying attention to these small details—capitalization, prepositions, and pronunciation—you will avoid the most common pitfalls and speak Dutch more fluently.

While december is the standard name for the month, there are several synonyms and related terms that Dutch speakers use to add variety or specific meaning. The most common alternative is de decembermaand, which literally means 'the December month'. This is often used in more descriptive or formal contexts, such as 'De decembermaand is altijd erg druk voor winkeliers' (The month of December is always very busy for shopkeepers).

De Feestmaand: Meaning 'the festive month'. This emphasizes the holidays like Sinterklaas and Christmas.
De Wintermaand: Meaning 'the winter month'. This focuses on the seasonal aspect and the cold weather.

In older literature or very formal settings, you might occasionally encounter the word wintermaand as a direct synonym for december. Historically, each month had a Dutch name before the Latin-derived names became standard (e.g., Louwmaand for January). While 'wintermaand' for December is largely obsolete in daily speech, it still appears in poetic contexts or historical texts. Another related term is de jaarafsluiting, which refers to the end of the year and the activities associated with it, often occurring in december.

In de volksmond wordt december vaak de feestmaand genoemd.

When comparing 'december' to its neighboring months, november and januari, you can see how it serves as a bridge. November is often seen as the 'gloomy' month, while december is the 'festive' one. If you want to talk about the end of the year without using the word 'december', you might use phrases like het einde van het jaar (the end of the year) or de jaarwisseling (the turn of the year), though the latter specifically refers to the transition from December 31st to January 1st.

In terms of adjectives, decemberachtig (December-like) is a rare but possible word to describe weather or an atmosphere that feels typical of the month. However, it is much more common to use the possessive or descriptive construction 'typisch voor december'. Understanding these alternatives allows you to express yourself with more nuance, whether you want to sound poetic, professional, or simply more like a native speaker.

Comparison: December vs. Feestmaand: 'December' is neutral and factual. 'Feestmaand' is warm and implies celebration.
Comparison: December vs. Jaarwisseling: 'December' covers 31 days. 'Jaarwisseling' covers only the night of the 31st.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"De betaling dient voor eind december te zijn voldaan."

Neutral

"In december gaan we op vakantie."

Informal

"December is echt een vreetmaand, vind je niet?"

Child friendly

"In december komt Sinterklaas met veel cadeautjes!"

Slang

"Die decemberstress is niet te doen, man."

Fun Fact

Despite being the 12th month today, its name still means 'tenth'. The Dutch used to call it 'wintermaand' or 'slachtmaand' before the Latin names became dominant.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /deːˈsɛmbər/

US /deɪˈsɛmbər/

The primary stress is on the second syllable: de-SEM-ber.

Rhymes With

november september tember ember camembert stemmer remmer zwemmer

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k' sound.
Using an English 'ch' sound for the 'c'.
Failing to pronounce the final 'r'.
Using a short 'i' sound for the first 'e'.
Stress on the first syllable instead of the second.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Extremely easy as it is a cognate of the English word.

Writing 2/5

Slight difficulty in remembering the lowercase rule.

Speaking 2/5

Requires attention to the soft 'c' and the final 'r'.

Listening 1/5

Very easy to recognize in context.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

maand jaar winter dag

Learn Next

januari februari seizoen vakantie

Advanced

jaarafsluiting winterwende decembermaand

Grammar to Know

Months are not capitalized in Dutch.

Het is december.

Use 'in' for months.

In december is het koud.

Use 'op' for specific calendar dates.

Op 5 december.

Time phrases at the start cause subject-verb inversion.

In december vieren we feest.

Adjectives from months often end in -se.

De decemberse kou.

Examples by Level

Het is koud in december.

It is cold in December.

Note the lowercase 'd' in december.

Ik ben jarig in december.

My birthday is in December.

Use 'in' for the month.

Sinterklaas komt op 5 december.

Sinterklaas comes on December 5th.

Use 'op' for a specific date.

Wij vieren Kerstmis in december.

We celebrate Christmas in December.

Standard 'in' preposition usage.

December is de laatste maand.

December is the last month.

Capitalized here because it starts the sentence.

Het regent veel in december.

It rains a lot in December.

Lowercase 'd' in the middle of the sentence.

Ik koop cadeaus in december.

I buy gifts in December.

Common activity for this month.

De dagen zijn kort in december.

The days are short in December.

Describing the season.

In december gaan we vaak naar de kerstmarkt.

In December we often go to the Christmas market.

Subject-verb inversion after the time phrase.

Begin december is het feest van Sinterklaas.

Early December is the festival of Sinterklaas.

'Begin' is used as a prefix for the time period.

Eind december vieren we oud en nieuw.

At the end of December we celebrate New Year's Eve.

'Eind' indicates the end of the month.

Heb je plannen voor de maand december?

Do you have plans for the month of December?

Using 'de maand' for more formal phrasing.

In december is het in Nederland vaak grijs weer.

In December it is often grey weather in the Netherlands.

Describing typical weather.

Mijn zus trouwt op twaalf december.

My sister is getting married on December twelfth.

Specific date with 'op'.

Wij eten altijd oliebollen in december.

We always eat 'oliebollen' in December.

Cultural food reference.

De winkels zijn extra open in december.

The shops are open extra hours in December.

Referring to 'koopavonden'.

De hele maand december hangt er een gezellige sfeer.

The entire month of December has a cozy atmosphere.

Using 'de hele maand' as a subject.

Vanaf half december hebben de kinderen kerstvakantie.

From mid-December, the children have Christmas vacation.

'Vanaf half' indicates the starting point.

In december blikken we vaak terug op het afgelopen jaar.

In December we often look back on the past year.

Reflective use of the month.

De decembermaand is voor veel mensen een dure tijd.

The month of December is an expensive time for many people.

Compound word 'decembermaand'.

Ik hoop dat we dit jaar in december sneeuw krijgen.

I hope that we get snow in December this year.

Expressing a wish about the month.

Tijdens december zijn er veel speciale acties in de winkels.

During December there are many special promotions in the shops.

Using 'tijdens' (during) as a preposition.

We moeten het project voor eind december afronden.

We must finish the project before the end of December.

Deadline expression.

In december drinken we vaak warme chocolademelk.

In December we often drink hot chocolate.

Seasonal habit.

De decemberdrukte in de binnenstad is soms overweldigend.

The December hustle in the city center is sometimes overwhelming.

Compound noun 'decemberdrukte'.

Veel bedrijven organiseren in december een kerstborrel voor hun personeel.

Many companies organize a Christmas drink for their staff in December.

Professional cultural context.

De decemberse kou hield de mensen niet tegen om naar buiten te gaan.

The December-like cold did not stop people from going outside.

Adjectival use 'decemberse'.

In december worden er traditiegetrouw veel gedichten geschreven.

In December, many poems are traditionally written.

Referring to Sinterklaas poems.

De omzet van de detailhandel piekt meestal in de maand december.

Retail turnover usually peaks in the month of December.

Formal/Economic context.

Ondanks de donkere dagen is december een maand van licht en hoop.

Despite the dark days, December is a month of light and hope.

Abstract/Philosophical use.

Kun je de factuur nog voor de jaarafsluiting in december sturen?

Can you send the invoice before the year-end closing in December?

Business terminology.

De december van 1944 was een van de zwaarste in de Nederlandse geschiedenis.

The December of 1944 was one of the toughest in Dutch history.

Using the definite article for a specific historical month.

De overgang van november naar december markeert het begin van de echte wintertijd.

The transition from November to December marks the beginning of the real winter time.

Formal descriptive structure.

In de literatuur wordt december vaak geassocieerd met introspectie en melancholie.

In literature, December is often associated with introspection and melancholy.

Literary/Academic context.

De decembertradities in de Lage Landen zijn een mengeling van christelijke en heidense elementen.

The December traditions in the Low Countries are a mixture of Christian and pagan elements.

Cultural-historical analysis.

Men spreekt vaak over de 'december-paradox': een tijd van vrede die gepaard gaat met enorme stress.

People often speak of the 'December paradox': a time of peace accompanied by enormous stress.

Sophisticated conceptual usage.

De decemberuitgaven vormen een cruciale pijler voor de jaarlijkse economische groei.

December spending forms a crucial pillar for annual economic growth.

High-level economic terminology.

Gedurende de gehele maand december staat de radio in het teken van de Top 2000.

Throughout the entire month of December, the radio is dedicated to the Top 2000.

Using 'gedurende' for duration.

De decemberse sfeer wordt versterkt door de geur van dennennaalden en glühwein.

The December atmosphere is enhanced by the scent of pine needles and mulled wine.

Sensory adjectival description.

Het is een uitdaging om in de hectische maand december de rust te bewaren.

It is a challenge to remain calm in the hectic month of December.

Complex sentence structure.

De semantische lading van 'december' reikt verder dan louter een tijdsaanduiding; het is een cultureel construct.

The semantic weight of 'december' extends beyond a mere time indication; it is a cultural construct.

Linguistic/Philosophical analysis.

In de vroege middeleeuwen kende december diverse benamingen die refereerden aan de slachtmaand.

In the early Middle Ages, December had various names that referred to the slaughter month.

Historical linguistic reference.

De sociopolitieke discussies over decemberfeesten weerspiegelen de veranderende tijdsgeest.

The socio-political discussions about December festivals reflect the changing zeitgeist.

Advanced sociological context.

Men kan de decembermaand beschouwen als het sluitstuk van een jaarlijks terugkerend narratief.

One can consider the month of December as the finale of an annually recurring narrative.

Metaphorical/Literary usage.

De meteorologische grilligheid van december bemoeilijkt accurate langetermijnvoorspellingen.

The meteorological volatility of December complicates accurate long-term forecasts.

Scientific/Technical register.

De december-retoriek in commerciële uitingen speelt handig in op sentimentele verlangens.

The December rhetoric in commercial expressions cleverly exploits sentimental desires.

Critical analytical register.

Het fenomeen van de 'december-blues' wordt vaak onderzocht in de context van seizoensgebonden depressie.

The phenomenon of the 'December blues' is often studied in the context of seasonal depression.

Psychological/Medical terminology.

De gelaagdheid van december als overgangsritueel is diep geworteld in de Europese traditie.

The layering of December as a rite of passage is deeply rooted in European tradition.

Anthropological context.

Common Collocations

begin december

eind december

half december

in december

op 5 december

de hele maand december

sinds december

voor december

na december

gedurende december

Common Phrases

December is een dure maand.

— A common saying referring to the high costs of gifts and food.

Ik moet sparen, want december is een dure maand.

De donkere dagen van december.

— Refers to the short daylight hours and the cozy/gloomy atmosphere.

Ik hou van de lichtjes in de donkere dagen van december.

Begin december.

— The first few days of the month.

We gaan begin december op reis.

Eind december.

— The last few days of the month.

Eind december vieren we feest.

In de loop van december.

— Sometime during the month of December.

In de loop van december horen we meer.

Sinds afgelopen december.

— Since last December.

Sinds afgelopen december woon ik hier.

De koude decembermaand.

— A descriptive way to talk about the month's temperature.

Niets is lekkerder dan soep in de koude decembermaand.

Tot en met december.

— Up to and including December.

Dit contract loopt tot en met december.

Vanaf december.

— Starting from December.

Vanaf december gaat de nieuwe wet in.

Midden december.

— Around the 15th of the month.

Midden december krijgen we de uitslag.

Often Confused With

december vs December (English)

The English version is capitalized; the Dutch version is not.

december vs december (spelling)

Don't spell it with a 'k' (dekember) or a 'z' (dezember).

december vs november

Learners sometimes mix up the end-of-year months.

Idioms & Expressions

"December staat voor de deur."

— December is coming very soon.

December staat voor de deur, heb je al cadeaus?

informal

"De decemberdrukte."

— The specific chaos of shopping and events in December.

Ik haat de decemberdrukte in de winkels.

neutral

"De feestmaand."

— Referring to December as a time of constant celebration.

Welkom in de feestmaand!

informal

"Onder de kerstboom in december."

— Metaphor for receiving gifts or being with family.

Wat ligt er dit jaar onder de kerstboom in december?

informal

"De jaarafsluiting."

— The formal process of finishing the year's work/finances.

De jaarafsluiting in december is altijd hectisch.

formal

"Een witte december."

— A December with snow (often a wish).

Ik droom van een witte december.

poetic

"De donkere dagen voor Kerst."

— The period of anticipation and specific winter atmosphere.

Het is zo gezellig tijdens de donkere dagen voor Kerst.

neutral

"Decemberzegels plakken."

— The act of sending Christmas cards (using special stamps).

Ben je al begonnen met decemberzegels plakken?

informal

"De decemberborrel."

— The traditional end-of-year social gathering at work.

Kom je ook naar de decemberborrel?

neutral

"Van december tot januari."

— The whole holiday season bridge.

We zijn gesloten van december tot januari.

neutral

Easily Confused

december vs december

Capitalization

Dutch uses lowercase; English uses uppercase.

Dutch: in december. English: in December.

december vs december

Pronunciation of 'c'

In Dutch it's an 's' sound; in some other languages it might be 'k'.

Dutch: /de-sem-ber/.

december vs decembermaand

Usage

'December' is the name; 'decembermaand' is more descriptive.

De decembermaand is gezellig.

december vs feestmaand

Synonym

'Feestmaand' is a nickname for December.

Welkom in de feestmaand!

december vs winter

Sentence Patterns

Ik ben jarig in [maand].

Ik ben jarig in december.

Het is [datum] [maand].

Het is 1 december.

In [maand] [werkwoord] [onderwerp]...

In december gaan wij naar de stad.

[Onderwerp] [werkwoord] op [datum] [maand].

De Sint komt op 5 december.

De hele maand [maand] [werkwoord]...

De hele maand december regent het.

Vanaf [tijdstip] [maand]...

Vanaf half december heb ik vrij.

De [maand]se [zelfstandig naamwoord]...

De decemberse sfeer is fijn.

Gedurende de maand [maand]...

Gedurende de maand december zijn er acties.

Word Family

Nouns

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high, especially in the fourth quarter of the year.

Common Mistakes

Writing 'December' with a capital letter. → december
Dutch months are not capitalized.
Saying 'Op december' when you mean 'In December'. → In december
Use 'in' for the month, 'op' for the day.
Pronouncing 'december' as 'de-kem-ber'. → de-sem-ber
The 'c' is always an 's' sound in this word.
Using '25th december' in writing. → 25 december
Dutch doesn't use ordinal suffixes in written dates.
Forgetting inversion: 'In december ik ga...' → In december ga ik...
Time phrases at the start require verb-subject order.

Tips

Lowercase Always

Train your brain to write 'december' without a capital letter. It's the #1 mistake English speakers make.

The Soft C

Practice the 's' sound. Say 'de-sem-ber'. Avoid any 'k' sound.

Two Days of Christmas

Remember that Christmas is two days in the Netherlands. Don't plan work for December 26th!

Inversion Alert

If you start a sentence with 'In december...', the next word must be the verb.

Compound Fun

Try using 'decemberdrukte' to describe the busy shopping season.

Radio Listening

Listen to Dutch radio in late December. It's a great way to hear the word used in a festive context.

Date Format

Always put the day before the month: 5 december.

The Borrel

If you are invited to a 'decemberborrel', it's a social drink at the end of the year. Go!

Small d for Dark

Think: 'december' is a dark month, so it uses a small, quiet 'd'.

Voor de deur

Use 'december staat voor de deur' to sound like a native when the month is approaching.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English 'December' but imagine it wearing a tiny 's' hat because the 'c' sounds like an 's', and it's too humble for a capital letter.

Visual Association

Imagine a calendar page where the 'd' in december is a small, shivering person (lowercase) because it's so cold in the winter.

Word Web

winter sneeuw koud donker gezellig feest cadeau oliebol

Challenge

Try to write three sentences about what you do in december without using any capital letters for the month name.

Word Origin

The word comes from the Latin 'december', which is derived from 'decem', meaning 'ten'. In the original Roman calendar, which began in March, December was the tenth month.

Original meaning: The tenth month of the year.

Indo-European (Latin origin via Old French and Middle Dutch).

Cultural Context

Be aware of the ongoing 'Zwarte Piet' debate surrounding the Sinterklaas celebrations in early December.

Unlike the UK or US, the big gift day is often Dec 5th, not Dec 25th. Also, Boxing Day is called 'Tweede Kerstdag'.

Top 2000 (NPO Radio 2) Sinterklaasjournaal Oudejaarsconference (comedy specials)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Scheduling

Zullen we in december afspreken?
Ik heb in december geen tijd.
Kan het voor december?
Na december ben ik vrij.

Weather

Het vriest vaak in december.
December is een natte maand.
Hopelijk sneeuwt het in december.
De zon schijnt weinig in december.

Holidays

Wat doe je met kerst in december?
We vieren Sinterklaas in december.
Heb je al plannen voor eind december?
December is de gezelligste maand.

Shopping

Ik moet nog decembercadeaus kopen.
Zijn de winkels open in december?
De decemberacties beginnen nu.
Het is druk in de stad in december.

Work

De jaarafsluiting is in december.
Ben je vrij in de laatste week van december?
We hebben een decemberborrel.
De doelen voor december zijn gehaald.

Conversation Starters

"Wat vind jij de leukste dag in december?"

"Vier je dit jaar Sinterklaas of Kerstmis in december?"

"Hou je van het weer in december in Nederland?"

"Heb je al goede voornemens voor na december?"

"Wat is je favoriete decembertraditie?"

Journal Prompts

Schrijf over je favoriete herinnering aan de maand december.

Wat zijn je doelen die je voor het einde van december wilt bereiken?

Beschrijf hoe december eruitziet in jouw woonplaats.

Reflecteer op het afgelopen jaar: wat was het hoogtepunt voor december?

Maak een lijst van dingen die je gelukkig maken in de maand december.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, in Dutch, months are common nouns and are written in lowercase unless they start a sentence. This is different from English where months are always capitalized.

The 'c' is pronounced as a soft 's' sound, like in the English word 'cent'. It is never pronounced as a 'k'.

Use 'in' for the month itself (in december) and 'op' for a specific date within the month (op 25 december).

The main holidays are Sinterklaas (December 5), Kerstmis (December 25 and 26), and Oudjaar (December 31).

It is a 'de' word (masculine), although you rarely need to use the article in common phrases.

You can use 'decemberse' to describe something typical of the month, like 'de decemberse kou'.

You write '31 december'. You don't need to add 'st' or any other suffix.

It literally means 'December month' and is used to refer to the entire period of December, often in a festive or busy context.

Yes, but they call it 'Tweede Kerstdag' (Second Christmas Day) and it falls on December 26th.

It is a very popular radio countdown of the 2000 best songs ever, broadcast from Christmas Day until New Year's Eve.