Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
December in Spanish: How to Say and Write Diciembre
Diciembre · noun (masculine) · dee-SYEHM-breh
December in Spanish is diciembre, a masculine noun. Unlike English, Spanish does not capitalize month names in running text. Diciembre is associated with holidays, end-of-year celebrations, and — in the Southern Hemisphere — the start of summer.
Four syllables: dee-SYEHM-breh. The stress falls on the second syllable. The ie combination is a diphthong, not two separate vowels.
Mi cumpleaños es en diciembre.
My birthday is in December.
December in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for december, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| diciembre | december | dee-SYEHM-breh | Default, widely understood |
| dic. | december | common abbreviation in calendars and forms |
How Native Speakers Use Diciembre
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Talking about dates
La reunión está programada para el quince de diciembre.
The meeting is scheduled for December fifteenth.
Dates in Spanish use el + number + de + month: el 15 de diciembre.
Holiday plans
En diciembre viajamos a casa de los abuelos para las fiestas.
In December we travel to our grandparents' house for the holidays.
Diciembre is closely linked to Navidad, Nochebuena, and Año Nuevo celebrations.
Weather reference (Southern Hemisphere)
Diciembre es pleno verano en Buenos Aires.
December is the middle of summer in Buenos Aires.
For learners in the Northern Hemisphere, remember that southern countries experience summer in December.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Diciembre
Capitalizing the month
Incorrect: Nos vemos en Diciembre.
Correct: Nos vemos en diciembre.
Unlike English, Spanish writes all month names in lowercase. Capitalize only at the start of a sentence.
Wrong preposition for 'in December'
Incorrect: Viajaré a España a diciembre.
Correct: Viajaré a España en diciembre.
The preposition for months is en, not a. En diciembre = in December.
Why December Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures
Holiday season
Lock in December Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Diciembre used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using diciembre in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi cumpleaños es en diciembre. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About December in Spanish
- Do I capitalize diciembre in Spanish?
- Never in running text. Months in Spanish are always lowercase unless they begin a sentence. Write 'el 25 de diciembre,' not 'el 25 de Diciembre.'
- How do I say 'last December' in Spanish?
- El diciembre pasado or en diciembre del año pasado. Both are natural and widely used.
- What is the abbreviation for diciembre?
- The standard abbreviation is dic. You will see it on forms, calendars, and official documents.