January

1. The first month of the Gregorian calendar, following the December of the previous year and preceding February.
2. (rare) A female given name transferred from the month name [in turn from English].

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈd͡ʒæn.j(ʊ.)ə.ɹi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: Januarie

Cognate with Middle English: Janevere

In summary

From Middle English Januarie, januari, re-latinised forms of Middle English Janevere, Ieneuer, from Anglo-Norman genever, from Latin Iānuārius (“(month) of Janus”), a compound of Iānus ("Janus") + -ārius (adjectival suffix), with the first element perhaps from the Proto-Indo-European root *yeh₂- (“to go”). Doublet of Gennaro.

Synonyms

Jan

New Year’s Day

New Year

first month

Sentences

Three finalists are announced in January .