oktobar

Oktobar is the name for October in several South Slavic languages, including Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Montenegrin. It denotes the tenth month of the Gregorian calendar and is used in everyday speech, literature, and official writing in regions where these languages are spoken.

Etymology and form: The word oktobar derives from Latin octo, meaning eight. In the early Roman calendar October was the eighth month; after calendar reforms it became the tenth month, but the name remained. The Slavic form oktobar reflects the influence of Latin-based month naming on regional languages.

Usage and timing: In the Northern Hemisphere, Oktobar is part of autumn, characterized by cooling weather and changing foliage. In the Southern Hemisphere, it falls in spring. The month typically includes various cultural and social events, with Halloween on October 31 being widely observed in many countries. In historical contexts, the term Oktobar appears in phrases such as Oktobarska revolucija (October Revolution) in some Slavic languages, referring to the 1917 events in Russia as described according to the calendar used there.

Notes on spelling and cognates: The German-language form Oktober is cognate but distinct from Oktobar. Different languages spell and pronounce the month differently, reflecting local linguistic traditions. In multilingual writing, Oktobar is usually capitalized at the beginning of sentences, as with other month names.