03/09/2026
Who Knew? The Story Behind the “-ber” Months
We’re into the “-ber” months now — September through December — and it got us wondering: why do the last four months of the year all share that little ending?
The answer takes us back to ancient Rome. The suffix “-ber” in September, October, November, and December comes from the Latin word “mensis,” meaning month. Back then, the Roman calendar began in March, which made these months the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth of the year.
That’s why their names come straight from Latin numerals:
Septem-ber → seventh month
Octo-ber → eighth month
Novem-ber → ninth month
Decem-ber → tenth month
Later, when January and February were added to the start of the calendar, the names stayed the same, even though the numbers no longer matched.
So next time you hear someone mention the “ber months,” you’ll know it’s more than just a cosy phrase for autumn and winter. It’s a little piece of history that’s stuck around for centuries.
