Why Is September the Ninth Month When Its Name Means Seven?
Discover why September is the ninth month despite its name meaning seven in Latin, tracing back to the Roman calendar history.
Video transcript
September is the ninth month because the Roman calendar, which originally had ten months, later added January and February. September comes from the Latin word “septem,” meaning seven, reflecting its position in the old calendar. Despite now being the ninth month, it retains its original name. This historical quirk explains why September is the ninth month, not the seventh.
Questions and answers
Why does September mean seven if it is the ninth month?
September comes from the Latin word 'septem' meaning seven because in the original Roman calendar, it was the seventh month before January and February were added.
How did the Roman calendar change the months sequence?
The Roman calendar originally had ten months starting with March; later, January and February were added at the beginning, shifting September to the ninth position.
What are the origins of other month names related to numbers?
Like September, October, November, and December were named after the numbers eight, nine, and ten in Latin because they appeared in those positions in the old Roman calendar.