September
sehp-TEHM-buh
September (noun) means the ninth month of the year, between August and October, marking the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. Example: “School usually starts again in September.”
noun
1
The ninth month of the year, between August and October, marking the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere.
"School usually starts again in September."
"The weather begins to cool down in September."
How to use September
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe month that comes after August.
Memory tip
The name is a leftover from an older calendar — that's why "sept-" (seven) names a month that's now the ninth.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Septembers
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School usually starts again in _____.
Etymology
From Latin September, based on septem ("seven") — it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar before January and February were added to the start of the year.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for September
See all rhymes for September →Frequently asked questions
What does “September” mean?
The word “September” means the ninth month of the year, between August and October, marking the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. In plain terms, the month that comes after August.
How do you pronounce “September”?
“September” is pronounced sehp-TEHM-buh (/sɛpˈtɛmbɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “September” in a sentence?
Here is “September” used in a sentence: “School usually starts again in September.”
What part of speech is “September”?
“September” is a noun.
Where does the word “September” come from?
The word “September” comes from Latin. From Latin September, based on septem ("seven") — it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar before January and February were added to the start of the year.
Is “September” a common word?
“September” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
Why is September called September if it's the ninth month?
The name comes from the Latin word 'septem', meaning seven, because September was the seventh month in the early Roman calendar, which began in March. When January and February were later added to the start of the year, the month shifted to ninth position, but its old number-based name stuck.
What season is September?
In the Northern Hemisphere, September marks the start of autumn, as days shorten and temperatures cool. In the Southern Hemisphere the opposite is true — it begins spring. The autumn equinox, when day and night are roughly equal, falls around 22 or 23 September.
What zodiac signs fall in September?
September covers two star signs. Virgo runs until about the 22nd, and Libra begins around the 23rd and continues into October. So people born early in the month are Virgos, while those born later are Libras, with the exact cut-off shifting slightly from year to year.
What is September's birthstone?
The traditional birthstone for September is the sapphire, usually prized in its deep blue form, though sapphires occur in other colours too. Its birth flowers are the aster and the morning glory. These symbols make September birthdays easy to mark with themed gifts.
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