noun
Very common
months
muhnths
Months (noun) means a woman's monthly menstrual period (dated or dialectal usage). Example: “In her old village, people spoke quietly of a woman having her months.”
noun
1
A woman's monthly menstrual period (dated or dialectal usage).
"In her old village, people spoke quietly of a woman having her months."
"My great-aunt used to say she stayed in bed during her months."
"She said she was having her months and needed to rest."
How to use months
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of referring to a menstrual period, treated as a recurring monthly event.
When to use it
This sense is dated and rarely used in modern speech; "period" is the standard everyday term now.
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Rhymes for months
See all rhymes for months →Frequently asked questions
What does “months” mean?
The word “months” means a woman's monthly menstrual period (dated or dialectal usage). In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of referring to a menstrual period, treated as a recurring monthly event.
How do you pronounce “months”?
“Months” is pronounced muhnths (/mʌnθs/ in IPA).
How do you use “months” in a sentence?
Here is “months” used in a sentence: “She said she was having her months and needed to rest.”
What part of speech is “months”?
“Months” is a noun.
Is “months” a common word?
“Months” is a very common word in modern English.
Why is a menstrual period sometimes called someone's 'months'?
This dated, dialectal use comes from the roughly monthly cycle of menstruation. Because the period returns each month, older and regional English sometimes referred to it simply as a woman's 'months,' much like the related term 'menses,' which shares a Latin root meaning 'month.'
Is 'months' still used to mean a menstrual period today?
Rarely. This sense is dated and dialectal, so most modern speakers would not recognise it. Today people use clearer terms such as 'period,' 'menstruation,' or 'menses.' You are most likely to meet the 'months' usage in older writing or in certain regional dialects.
What is the difference between 'months' and 'menses'?
Both refer to menstruation, and both trace back to the idea of a monthly cycle. 'Menses' is a standard medical term still in use, from the Latin for 'month.' 'Months' in this sense is an older, dialectal everyday word for the same thing, now largely out of use.
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