calendar_month Numbers
12 months in Fon
The months of the year in fɔ̀ngbè are formed with sun (moon / month) + an ordinal number. Here are the 12 months with their traditional name and their link to the seasons.
schedule 5 min
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1
January-June
First half of the year
Sun ɖokpóJanuary (month 1)
Sun wèɖeFebruary (month 2)
Sun atɔ̀nɖeMarch (month 3)
Sun ɛnɛ̀ɖeApril (month 4)
Sun atɔ́ɔ́nɖeMay (month 5)
Sun ayìzɛ́nɖeJune (month 6)
2
July-December
Second half of the year
Sun tɛ́nwèɖeJuly (month 7)
Sun tántɔ̀nɖeAugust (month 8)
Sun tɛ́nnɛ̀ɖeSeptember (month 9)
Sun wǒɖeOctober (month 10)
Sun wǒ kpó ɖokpóɖeNovember (month 11)
Sun wǒwèDecember (month 12)
3
Seasons
Months and the seasonal calendar
Hwèjivɔ̀Dry season (Dec-Mar)
HwetɔnuRainy season (Apr-Jul)
Hwetɔ́n kpɛ́véShort dry season (Aug)
Hwetɔ́n ɖaxóLong rainy season (Sep-Nov)
Sun atɔ́ɔ́nɖe ɖíè
It is May
Tip
The 12 French months were adapted to the Fon ordinal system. But Beninese people track the year by the seasons as much as by the numbered months.
The year in 12 moons
Sun + nombre ordinal = name of the month. And knowing how to talk about the seasons (hwèjivɔ̀, hwetɔnu) roots you in Fon farming culture.
à ≠ ǎ
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