Teach Spanish Months of the Year: August in Spanish

El mes de Agosto, or August in Spanish is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. August has 31 days and is a month full of important events and celebrations all around the world.

August was named “Augustus” after the Roman emperor Octavius Augustus and later the name evolved to August in English and Agosto in Spanish. Because the emperor Augustus didn’t like the month that honored him being shorter than July, he added two more days to his month, and that’s why July and August have 31 one days each.

If you want to talk about August in Spanish, this is the perfect article for you! August is full of celebrations, commemorations and important events, and being one of the last months of Summer, it is full of life! Let’s begin to learn more about this amazing month! 

Events During August in Spanish

August is a really busy month regarding events and celebrations all around the world, but this article will center around those celebrations important to Latin America and Spain. And if you want to talk about August in Spanish, you have to mention them. Let’s get to it!

Fiestas Patronales de San Salvador

Also known as Fiestas Agostinas in Spanish, these festivities are held in honor of El Divino Salvador del Mundo (The Divine Savior of the World). The official day of these festivities is on August 6, and is an official holiday in El Salvador, so people use the day off to do different things to commemorate the date.

Because las fiestas Agostinas are a religious celebration that date from 1525, it’s common to celebrate them with Masses and religious processions, but also with secular activities like choosing a Queen for the festivities and parades.

When talking about August in Spanish with a Salvadoreño (Salvadorean) you’ll want to talk about these festivities, so here is a small set of useful Spanish vocabulary about it!

Día Internacional de los Pueblos Originarios

Known in English as “International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples,” this commemoration is observed every year on August 9 as a way to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also commemorates and recognizes the achievements and contributions of indigenous people to the world, like environmental protection and history.

El Día Internacional de los Pueblos Originarios has been celebrated since 1995 and each year it has a different theme to discuss and learn about. 

Here are some words to use when talking about this commemoration when learning about August in Spanish:

Día Internacional de la Juventud

El Día Internacional de la Juventud or International Youth Day in English is an annually observed event promoted by the United Nations to bring awareness and attention to the different issues surrounding youth all around the world.

This event has been observed annually on August 12 since the year 2000 and it is taken as an opportunity for governments and different organizations to draw attention to youth issues worldwide and to propose solutions to those issues. This commemoration also seeks to empower youth and give them tools to get ahead in life.

This is an important event when discussing and learning about August in Spanish, for that reason here is a vocabulary to talk about this event:

Día de la Independencia

During August there are some Independence Days to celebrate, alongside several patriotic and political events. 

Here are the Latin American countries that celebrate their Independence Day during August:

• August 6 — Bolivia
• August 10 — Ecuador
• August 25 — Uruguay

 What to do During August

August weather is pretty hot, even when cool temperatures begin, so it’s a perfect month to do things outdoors and enjoy the last days of summer and vacation. Here are some ideas on what to do in August in Spanish:

1. Watch a meteor shower and practice your Spanish!

Las lluvias de meteoritos or meteor showers are one of the most amazing espectacles to watch at night. During the month of August, there are several astronomical events to enjoy with your friends and families.

The Kappa Cygnids, KGC for short, is a minor meteor shower that takes place during August. It occurs from August 3 to August 25 and peaks around August 17. The Alpha Capricornids is another meteor shower that takes place as early as July 15 and continues until around August 10. 

But there is a famous and major astronomical event that takes place between July and August, and that is the Perseids, known as Perseidas in Spanish. If you want to catch them this year, here are the instructions in Spanish and English:

Instrucciones — Instructions

1. Para ver las Perseidas no necesitas equipo ni nada especial.
   To watch the Perseids you don’t need any equipment or anything special.
2. Lo que necesitas es un cielo despejado y mucha paciencia.
   What you need is a clear sky and a lot of patience.

Para maximizar tu experiencia sigue los siguientes consejos:
To maximize your experience, follow this tips: 

• Encuentra un lugar retirado para que sea tu lugar de observación, lejos de la luz de la ciudad.
  Find a secluded place for your viewing spot, away from the city lights.

• Vístete apropiadamente para el clima y asegúrate de estar cómodo, puedes llevar una silla o una manta para sentarte y esperar.
  Dress appropriately for the weather and make sure to be comfortable, you can take a chair or a blanket to sit and wait.

• Una vez ubicado en tu lugar, acuéstate y a esperar. Para ubicar con mejor facilidad donde será la lluvia de estrellas, puedes usar un mapa estelar.
  Once you find your ideal spot, you just have to lay down and wait. To find more easily the position of the meteor shower, you can use a star map, like this one here.  

In 2021, the peak of the Perseids will be on August 13-14.

Because waiting for the meteor shower can be a little too boring, why not use that time to practice some vocabulary about the sky and the stars? Here is a list of Spanish words to use when watching a meteor shower:

2. Learn Some August Sayings: 

The best way to understand how a whole community feels about a certain month of the year and learn from popular knowledge is through sayings. Here are some you can learn to talk about August in Spanish:

• Agosto, por el día te fríe el rostro; pero por la noche frío en rostro.
  August, during the day fries your face; but in the night cold face. 

• Llueva o no llueva, en agosto la huerta riega.
  Rain or not, in August the garden waters.

• En agosto, a sol puesto no te conozco. 
  In August, at sunset I don’t know you.

• Lo que agosto madura, septiembre lo asegura.
  What August matures, September ensures it. 

Practice Your Spanish!

Even if August signals that the end of summer is near, you still can make the most out of your vacations by learning and practicing your Spanish fluency! Sign up to a free 1-on-1 Spanish class and become part of the more than 24,000 monthly enrolled students in Homeschool Spanish Academy! And if you are worried about going back to classes and not being able to continue your Spanish studies, worry not! We offer personalized and tailored Spanish packages, flexible schedules and high school Spanish credit with transcripts. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get learning! 

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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