Month to Fortnight Converter
Convert months to fortnights with our free online time converter.
Quick Answer
1 Month = 2.174062 fortnights
Formula: Month × conversion factor = Fortnight
Use the calculator below for instant, accurate conversions.
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Month to Fortnight Calculator
How to Use the Month to Fortnight Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Month).
- The converted value in Fortnight will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Time category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Month to Fortnight: Step-by-Step Guide
Converting Month to Fortnight involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Month = 2.174062 fortnightsExample Calculation:
Convert 60 months: 60 × 2.174062 = 130.4437 fortnights
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
Need to convert to other time units?
View all Time conversions →What is a Month and a Fortnight?
A month is a unit of time used with calendars, approximately based on the orbital period of the Moon around Earth. The word "month" derives from "Moon" (Proto-Germanic mǣnōth).
Modern Gregorian Calendar Months
In the Gregorian calendar (standard worldwide since 1582), months have irregular lengths:
| Month | Days | Hours | Weeks (approx) | |-----------|----------|-----------|-------------------| | January | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | February | 28 (29 leap) | 672 (696 leap) | 4.00 (4.14 leap) | | March | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | April | 30 | 720 | 4.29 | | May | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | June | 30 | 720 | 4.29 | | July | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | August | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | September | 30 | 720 | 4.29 | | October | 31 | 744 | 4.43 | | November | 30 | 720 | 4.29 | | December | 31 | 744 | 4.43 |
Average Month for Conversions
For mathematical conversions, an average month is defined as:
- 1/12th of a year = 365.25 days ÷ 12 = 30.4375 days (often rounded to 30.44 days)
- 730.5 hours (30.4375 × 24)
- 43,830 minutes (730.5 × 60)
- 2,629,800 seconds (43,830 × 60)
- 4.35 weeks (30.4375 ÷ 7)
Lunar Month vs. Calendar Month
- Synodic month (lunar cycle, new moon to new moon): 29.53 days (29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 seconds)
- Sidereal month (Moon's orbit relative to stars): 27.32 days
- Gregorian calendar month: 28-31 days (avg 30.44 days)
- Drift: Calendar months drift ~2 days per month from lunar phases
The Fourteen-Day Period
A fortnight is precisely 14 consecutive days, representing two full weeks.
Exact equivalents:
- 14 days (by definition)
- 336 hours (14 days × 24 hours)
- 20,160 minutes (336 hours × 60 minutes)
- 1,209,600 seconds (20,160 minutes × 60 seconds)
Not variable: Unlike months (28-31 days), the fortnight is always exactly 14 days, making it a consistent scheduling unit.
Etymology: Counting by Nights
The word "fortnight" combines:
- "Fourteen" (the number 14)
- "Night" (from Old English "niht")
Old English origin: "Fēowertīene niht" = "fourteen nights"
Why nights, not days? Ancient Germanic peoples observed the lunar cycle for timekeeping. The moon's visibility at night made nights more prominent for tracking time than daylight periods. This night-counting tradition appears in related Germanic languages:
- Dutch: "veertien dagen" (fourteen days) — shifted from nights to days
- German: "vierzehn Tage" (fourteen days) — also shifted to days
- Icelandic: "fj
ógur dagar" (fourteen days)
English uniquely preserves the "night" etymology, though modern usage refers to the complete 14-day period regardless of time of day.
Relationship to Weeks and Months
Two weeks: A fortnight is exactly half a lunar month (~29.5 days ÷ 2 ≈ 14.75 days), though slightly shorter. This makes it a natural intermediate period between the week (7 days) and the month.
Calendar months:
- 26-27 fortnights per year (365.25 days ÷ 14 = 26.09 fortnights)
- ~2.17 fortnights per month (30.44 days ÷ 14)
The fortnight provides a convenient subdivision smaller than a month but larger than a week, useful for payroll, rent, and recurring obligations.
Note: The Month is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Fortnight belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Month and Fortnight
of the Month
1. Ancient Lunar Origins (Pre-3000 BCE)
The concept of the month originated from observing the lunar cycle—the period from one new moon to the next, approximately 29.53 days (synodic month).
Early lunar calendars:
- Babylonian calendar (c. 2000 BCE): 12 lunar months (~354 days per year), with periodic intercalary (13th) months added every 2-3 years to realign with seasons
- Egyptian calendar (c. 3000 BCE): 12 months of exactly 30 days each (360 days) + 5 epagomenal days = 365 days, detached from lunar cycle
- Hebrew/Jewish calendar (c. 1500 BCE): Lunisolar calendar with 12-13 months (29-30 days each), still used today for religious observances
- Chinese calendar (c. 1600 BCE): Lunisolar calendar with 12-13 months, determining Chinese New Year (late January to mid-February)
Why lunar months? Ancient civilizations without artificial lighting noticed the Moon's dramatic visual changes every ~29.5 days, making it an obvious natural timekeeper.
2. Roman Calendar Evolution (753 BCE - 46 BCE)
The Roman calendar underwent dramatic transformations:
Romulus Calendar (753 BCE - legendary):
- 10 months, 304 days total, starting in March (spring equinox)
- Months: Martius (31), Aprilis (30), Maius (31), Junius (30), Quintilis (31), Sextilis (30), September (30), October (31), November (30), December (30)
- Winter gap (~61 days) was unnamed, creating calendar chaos
Numa Pompilius Reform (c. 713 BCE):
- Added January and February to fill winter gap
- 12 months, 355 days total (still 10.25 days short of solar year)
- Required periodic intercalary months (Mercedonius) to realign with seasons
- Romans disliked even numbers, so most months had 29 or 31 days (February got unlucky 28)
Late Roman Republic (c. 100 BCE):
- Calendar administration corrupt—priests (pontifices) manipulated intercalary months for political gain (extending terms, delaying elections)
- Calendar drifted months out of sync with seasons (harvest festivals in wrong seasons)
3. Julian Calendar (46 BCE - 1582 CE)
Julius Caesar's reform (46 BCE):
- Consulted Egyptian astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria
- Adopted solar year = 365.25 days (365 days + leap day every 4 years)
- Redesigned month lengths to solar-based 28-31 days:
- 31 days: January, March, May, July (Quintilis), September, November
- 30 days: April, June, August (Sextilis), October, December
- 28/29 days: February (unlucky month, kept short)
- 46 BCE = "Year of Confusion" (445 days long to realign calendar with seasons)
Later adjustments:
- 44 BCE: Quintilis renamed July (Julius Caesar, after his assassination)
- 8 BCE: Sextilis renamed August (Augustus Caesar)
- August given 31 days (stealing 1 from February) to match July's prestige, redistributing others
- Final pattern: Jan(31), Feb(28/29), Mar(31), Apr(30), May(31), Jun(30), Jul(31), Aug(31), Sep(30), Oct(31), Nov(30), Dec(31)
Problem with Julian calendar: Solar year = 365.2422 days (not exactly 365.25), so calendar gained ~11 minutes per year = 3 days every 400 years
4. Gregorian Calendar (1582 CE - Present)
Pope Gregory XIII's reform (1582):
- Corrected drift: Removed 10 days (October 4, 1582 → October 15, 1582) to realign with seasons
- New leap year rule:
- Leap year every 4 years (like Julian)
- EXCEPT century years (1700, 1800, 1900) NOT leap years
- EXCEPT century years divisible by 400 (1600, 2000, 2400) ARE leap years
- Result: 97 leap years per 400 years = 365.2425 days average (only 27 seconds/year error)
- Month lengths unchanged from final Julian pattern
Adoption:
- Catholic countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy): Immediately (1582)
- Protestant countries (Britain, colonies): 1752 (removed 11 days: Sept 2 → Sept 14)
- Russia: 1918 (removed 13 days, after October Revolution became November Revolution)
- China: 1912 (Republic of China adoption)
- Turkey: 1926 (secular reforms)
- Now universal for civil purposes worldwide
5. Lunar Calendars Continue
Despite Gregorian dominance, lunar/lunisolar calendars continue for religious/cultural purposes:
- Islamic Hijri calendar: 12 lunar months (354-355 days), cycles through seasons every 33 years, determines Ramadan
- Hebrew calendar: Lunisolar with 12-13 months, determines Jewish holidays
- Chinese calendar: Lunisolar, determines Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival
- Hindu calendars: Multiple regional lunisolar systems
- Buddhist calendars: Various lunisolar systems across Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
Ancient Germanic Night-Counting (Pre-9th Century)
Lunar observation: Before written calendars, Germanic tribes tracked time using the moon's phases. The new moon to full moon cycle (approximately 14-15 days) created natural fortnight-length periods.
Night prominence:
- Full moons illuminated nights, making them memorable markers
- Daylight periods blurred together without distinct markers
- Nights were counted: "three nights hence," "fourteen nights from now"
This system influenced Old Norse, Old English, and other Germanic languages.
Old English Documentation (9th-11th Centuries)
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (circa 890 CE): The earliest written English historical record uses "fēowertīene niht" to describe fourteen-day periods in battle accounts and political events.
Beowulf (8th-11th century): The epic poem references time periods measured in nights, including fortnight-length durations for journeys and feasts.
Legal codes: Anglo-Saxon law codes (Aethelberht, Alfred the Great) used fortnights for legal waiting periods and court summons.
Middle English Evolution (12th-15th Centuries)
Spelling variations:
- "Fourtenyght" (14th century)
- "Fourtenight" (15th century)
- "Fourteenyght"
- Gradual simplification toward "fortnight"
Chaucer's Canterbury Tales (1387-1400): Geoffrey Chaucer used fortnight references, solidifying the term in literary English: "And eek me thynketh in my remembraunce, / I have herd telle of a fortnyght or thre"
Medieval commerce: Markets and fairs often operated on fortnight cycles, with merchants returning to towns every two weeks.
Early Modern English (16th-17th Centuries)
Standardization: By the 1500s, "fortnight" became the dominant spelling and pronunciation.
Shakespeare's usage (1590s-1610s): William Shakespeare used "fortnight" frequently across his plays:
- The Tempest (1611): "I'll deliver all; And promise you calm seas, auspicious gales, And sail so expeditious that shall catch Your royal fleet far off. My Araby, chick! That is thy charge: then to the elements Be free, and fare thou well! Please you, draw near." (References to travel time in fortnights)
- The Two Gentlemen of Verona
- Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare's widespread influence ensured "fortnight" became standard educated English.
British Empire and Commonwealth Spread (17th-19th Centuries)
Colonial administration: British colonial governments used fortnightly reporting cycles, payment schedules, and administrative periods.
Spread to:
- Australia (colonized 1788 onward)
- New Zealand (colonized 1840 onward)
- India (British Raj, 18th-20th centuries)
- Canada (though later influenced by American "two weeks")
- South Africa, Caribbean, East Africa
Embedded in law: Colonial legal codes, rental agreements, and labor contracts specified fortnightly terms, creating lasting institutional usage.
Industrial Revolution and Labor Movements (19th Century)
Fortnightly wages: British factories and mills established fortnightly pay cycles during the Industrial Revolution (1760-1840):
- Workers received wages every two weeks
- Easier for employers to manage than weekly payroll
- Allowed workers to budget for monthly rent
Labor union influence: Trade unions negotiated fortnightly pay as standard, spreading throughout the British Empire.
Australian adoption: Australian colonies (becoming a federation in 1901) adopted fortnightly wages widely. Today, Australia has the world's highest fortnight usage, with most wages, rent, and bills calculated fortnightly.
American Divergence (20th Century)
"Two weeks" replaces "fortnight": American English gradually abandoned "fortnight" during the 20th century in favor of "two weeks."
Reasons:
- Simplicity: "Two weeks" is more transparent to non-native speakers
- Bi-weekly confusion: "Bi-weekly" can mean either twice per week or once every two weeks, causing ambiguity
- Cultural shift: American preference for straightforward terminology
Result: By the 21st century, "fortnight" sounds archaic or quaint to most Americans.
Modern Commonwealth Usage (1900s-Present)
United Kingdom: Fortnightly payroll, magazine publications ("published fortnightly"), TV schedules (reality shows with "fortnightly evictions").
Australia and New Zealand:
- Dominant time unit: Wages almost universally paid fortnightly
- Rental agreements: Rent calculated per fortnight (not per week or month)
- Government benefits: Welfare payments issued fortnightly
Cultural persistence: Despite global influence of American English, fortnight remains deeply embedded in Commonwealth life, appearing daily in conversation, media, and official documents.
Common Uses and Applications: months vs fortnights
Explore the typical applications for both Month (imperial/US) and Fortnight (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for months
and Applications
1. Financial Planning and Budgeting
Monthly budget framework:
- Income: Track monthly take-home pay (after taxes)
- Fixed expenses: Rent/mortgage, car payment, insurance (consistent monthly amounts)
- Variable expenses: Groceries, utilities, entertainment (varies month-to-month)
- Savings goals: "Save $500/month" = $6,000/year
- Debt repayment: "Extra $200/month toward credit card" = $2,400/year payoff
Monthly vs. annual thinking:
- $150/month subscription = $1,800/year (psychological impact: monthly feels smaller)
- "Latte factor": $5 daily coffee = $150/month = $1,800/year = $18,000/decade
Monthly financial ratios:
- Rent rule: Rent should be ≤30% of monthly gross income
- 50/30/20 rule: 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings (monthly breakdown)
2. Subscription and Membership Economy
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) = business model foundation:
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Monthly subscription pricing (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud $54.99/month)
- Streaming services: Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ (monthly billing standard)
- Gym memberships: Monthly dues (e.g., $30-100/month depending on gym)
- Amazon Prime: $14.99/month (or $139/year = $11.58/month, annual cheaper)
Monthly vs. annual pricing psychology:
- Annual = higher upfront cost, lower monthly rate, customer lock-in
- Monthly = lower barrier to entry, higher churn risk, higher effective rate
3. Project Management and Milestones
Standard project durations:
- 1-month sprint: Agile/Scrum often uses 2-4 week sprints (close to 1 month)
- 3-month project: Standard short-term project (1 quarter)
- 6-month project: Medium-term initiative (2 quarters, half-year)
- 12-month project: Long-term strategic initiative (full year)
Monthly milestones:
- Month 1: Planning and setup
- Month 2: Development/implementation
- Month 3: Testing and refinement
- Month 4: Launch and monitoring
4. Employment and Compensation
Pay period variations:
- Monthly (12 pay periods/year): Common internationally, especially Europe/Asia
- Pros: Aligns with monthly bills, simpler accounting
- Cons: Long gap between paychecks (especially if month has 31 days)
- Semi-monthly (24 pay periods/year): 1st and 15th of each month
- Pros: More frequent pay (twice per month), aligns with mid-month expenses
- Cons: Pay dates vary (weekends/holidays), inconsistent days between paychecks
- Bi-weekly (26 pay periods/year): Every 2 weeks (e.g., every other Friday)
- Pros: Consistent day of week, 2 "extra" paychecks per year
- Cons: Doesn't align with monthly bills, some months have 3 paychecks
Monthly salary vs. hourly:
- Salaried: Annual salary ÷ 12 = monthly salary (e.g., $72,000/year = $6,000/month)
- Hourly: (Hourly rate × hours/week × 52 weeks) ÷ 12 months (e.g., $25/hr × 40hrs × 52 ÷ 12 = $4,333/month)
5. Calendar Organization
Month as primary calendar unit:
- Monthly view: Standard calendar layout (7 columns × 4-6 rows = 28-42 cells)
- Month numbering: January = 1, February = 2, ... December = 12
- Date notation:
- US: MM/DD/YYYY (month first)
- International (ISO 8601): YYYY-MM-DD (year-month-day)
- European: DD/MM/YYYY (day first)
Month-based planning:
- Goals: "Read 2 books per month" = 24 books/year
- Habits: "Exercise 3 times per week" = 12-13 times per month
- Reviews: "Monthly review" of goals, finances, habits
6. Seasonal Business Cycles
Retail calendar:
- January: Post-holiday sales, fitness equipment (New Year's resolutions)
- February: Valentine's Day
- March-April: Spring cleaning, Easter, tax season
- May: Mother's Day, Memorial Day (unofficial summer start)
- June: Father's Day, graduations, weddings
- July-August: Summer travel, back-to-school shopping (late August)
- September: Labor Day, fall season begins
- October: Halloween
- November: Thanksgiving, Black Friday (biggest shopping day)
- December: Holiday shopping season (Christmas/Hanukkah)
Quarterly thinking (3-month periods):
- Q1 (Jan-Mar): New Year momentum, tax season
- Q2 (Apr-Jun): Spring/early summer, end of fiscal year for many companies
- Q3 (Jul-Sep): Summer slowdown, back-to-school
- Q4 (Oct-Dec): Holiday season, year-end push, budget planning
7. Age and Developmental Milestones
Infant/child development:
- 0-12 months: Tracked monthly (dramatic changes each month)
- 3 months: Lifts head, smiles
- 6 months: Sits up, starts solid foods
- 9 months: Crawls, says "mama/dada"
- 12 months: Walks, first words
- 12-24 months: Often still tracked monthly ("18 months old" vs. "1.5 years")
- 2+ years: Typically switch to years ("3 years old")
Age expression:
- Months (0-23 months): More precise for developmental tracking
- Years (2+ years): Standard for most purposes
- Decades (30s, 40s, etc.): Rough life stages
When to Use fortnights
1. British and Commonwealth Payroll
Fortnightly pay period: The most widespread use of fortnight is in employment contracts specifying pay every 14 days.
Advantages:
- 26 pay periods per year (simpler arithmetic than 52 weekly periods)
- Budget-friendly: Easier to align with monthly bills
- Payroll efficiency: Reduces administrative burden compared to weekly pay
Typical schedule: Employees paid on alternating Fridays, creating a predictable two-week cycle.
2. Australian Rental Agreements
Rent calculation: Australian rental market uniquely quotes rent per fortnight rather than per week or per month.
Conversion formulas:
- Fortnight to month: Fortnight rent × 26 ÷ 12
- Month to fortnight: Month rent × 12 ÷ 26
Example:
- $700/fortnight = $700 × 26 ÷ 12 = $1,516.67/month
3. Scheduling and Planning
Recurring events: "The committee meets fortnightly" = every two weeks
Vacation planning: "I'm taking a fortnight off" = two-week vacation
Project timelines: "Deliver progress reports every fortnight"
4. Literary and Formal Writing
British literature: Historical novels and formal writing use "fortnight" for period flavor.
Legal documents: UK contracts may specify "a fortnight's notice" for resignations or terminations.
5. Sports and Competition Schedules
Tournament cycles: Some sports competitions use fortnightly rounds.
Training schedules: Athletes may follow fortnight-based training cycles (two weeks of intensive training followed by recovery).
6. Historical and Cultural Context
Period dramas: Films and TV set in Britain use "fortnight" for authenticity.
Example dialogue: "The Duke will return in a fortnight."
Additional Unit Information
About Month (mo)
1. How many days are in a month?
It varies by month:
- 31 days: January, March, May, July, August, October, December (7 months)
- 30 days: April, June, September, November (4 months)
- 28 days: February (non-leap year)
- 29 days: February (leap year, every 4 years with exceptions)
Average month = 30.44 days (365.25 ÷ 12), used for conversions.
Mnemonic: "30 days hath September, April, June, and November. All the rest have 31, except February alone, which has 28 days clear, and 29 in each leap year."
Knuckle trick: Make fists and count across knuckles (31 days) and valleys (30 days, except February).
2. Why do months have different lengths?
Historical reasons:
- Roman calendar origins: 10-month calendar (Romulus) had 304 days, leaving ~61-day winter gap
- Numa Pompilius added January and February (c. 713 BCE), creating 12 months with 355 days
- Julius Caesar (46 BCE): Julian calendar with 365.25-day year required distributing days across 12 months
- Political decisions: July (Julius Caesar) and August (Augustus Caesar) both given 31 days for prestige, shortening February to 28 days
Result: Irregular pattern (31-28-31-30-31-30-31-31-30-31-30-31) due to Roman politics, not astronomy.
3. What is an average month length used for conversions?
Average month = 30.4375 days (often rounded to 30.44 days)
Calculation: 365.25 days per year ÷ 12 months = 30.4375 days per month
- 365.25 accounts for leap year (365 × 3 years + 366 × 1 year = 1,461 days ÷ 4 years = 365.25)
When to use average month:
- Converting months to days/weeks/hours when specific month unknown
- Financial calculations (monthly interest rates, annual salary ÷ 12)
- Age approximations ("6 months old" ≈ 183 days)
When NOT to use average: Specific date calculations (use actual month lengths).
4. Is a month based on the Moon?
Historically, yes. Currently, only approximately.
Etymology: "Month" derives from "Moon" (Old English mōnað, Proto-Germanic mǣnōth).
Lunar cycle: 29.53 days (synodic month, new moon to new moon)
Gregorian calendar month: 28-31 days (avg 30.44 days)
- Drift: Calendar months drift ~2 days per month from lunar phases
- Example: Full moon on January 15 → next full moon ~February 13 (29.5 days later), not February 15
Modern lunar calendars:
- Islamic calendar: Strictly lunar (12 months × 29.5 days = 354 days), cycles through seasons every 33 years
- Hebrew/Chinese calendars: Lunisolar (12-13 months, adding extra month every 2-3 years to stay aligned with seasons)
Why detached? Solar year (365.24 days) and lunar year (354.37 days) are incompatible—12 lunar months = 10.87 days short of solar year.
5. How many weeks are in a month?
Average month = 4.35 weeks (30.44 days ÷ 7 days/week)
Common mistake: Assuming 1 month = 4 weeks (WRONG—actually 4 weeks = 28 days, most months are 30-31 days)
Specific months:
- 28 days (February, non-leap) = 4.00 weeks
- 29 days (February, leap) = 4.14 weeks
- 30 days (April, June, September, November) = 4.29 weeks
- 31 days (January, March, May, July, August, October, December) = 4.43 weeks
Implications:
- "4 weeks pregnant" ≠ "1 month pregnant" (4 weeks = 28 days, 1 month avg = 30.44 days)
- "Save $100/week" = $435/month (not $400)
6. How many months are in a year?
12 months in all major calendar systems (Gregorian, Julian, Hebrew, Chinese, Hindu).
Why 12 months?
- Lunar approximation: 12 lunar cycles (~354 days) close to solar year (365 days)
- Convenient division: 12 has many factors (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12), making quarters (3 months), half-years (6 months) easy
- Historical precedent: Babylonian, Roman calendars used 12 months
Alternative proposals (failed):
- French Republican Calendar (1793-1805): 12 months × 30 days + 5 epagomenal days (abandoned after Napoleon)
- International Fixed Calendar (proposed 1930s): 13 months × 28 days + 1 extra day (never adopted, opposed by religious groups)
7. What is a leap year and how does it affect months?
Leap year: Year with 366 days (not 365), adding 1 extra day to February (29 days instead of 28).
Leap year rule (Gregorian calendar):
- Year divisible by 4 = leap year (e.g., 2024)
- EXCEPT century years (1700, 1800, 1900) = NOT leap year
- EXCEPT century years divisible by 400 (1600, 2000, 2400) = leap year
Why leap years? Solar year = 365.2422 days (not exactly 365), so calendar gains ~0.2422 days per year = ~1 day every 4 years. Adding leap day keeps calendar aligned with seasons.
Impact on months:
- Only February affected (28 → 29 days)
- Leap year: 366 days = 52 weeks + 2 days (52.29 weeks)
- Non-leap year: 365 days = 52 weeks + 1 day (52.14 weeks)
Next leap years: 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040
8. What is the origin of month names?
Month names (Gregorian calendar, from Latin):
| Month | Origin | Meaning | |-----------|-----------|-------------| | January | Janus (Roman god) | God of beginnings, doorways (two faces looking forward/backward) | | February | Februa (Roman purification festival) | Purification ritual held mid-February | | March | Mars (Roman god) | God of war (originally first month of Roman year) | | April | Aprilis (Latin) | "To open" (buds opening in spring) or Aphrodite (Greek goddess) | | May | Maia (Roman goddess) | Goddess of growth, spring | | June | Juno (Roman goddess) | Goddess of marriage, queen of gods | | July | Julius Caesar | Roman dictator (month of his birth), originally Quintilis ("fifth") | | August | Augustus Caesar | First Roman emperor, originally Sextilis ("sixth") | | September | Septem (Latin) | "Seven" (originally 7th month before January/February added) | | October | Octo (Latin) | "Eight" (originally 8th month) | | November | Novem (Latin) | "Nine" (originally 9th month) | | December | Decem (Latin) | "Ten" (originally 10th month) |
Historical shift: September-December originally matched their numeric names (7th-10th months) when Roman year started in March. Adding January/February shifted them to 9th-12th positions.
9. Why is February the shortest month?
Roman superstition and politics:
- Roman numerology: Romans considered even numbers unlucky, so most months had 29 or 31 days (odd numbers)
- February = unlucky month: Month of purification rituals (Februa), associated with death/underworld, so Romans kept it short
- Julius Caesar's reform (46 BCE): Distributed days to create 365.25-day year, February remained shortest at 28 days
- Augustus's adjustment (8 BCE): Legend says Augustus took 1 day from February (29 → 28) to make August 31 days (matching July), but historians dispute this—likely just continued existing pattern
Result: February = 28 days (29 in leap years), shortest month by 1-3 days.
10. What are the financial quarters?
Financial quarters (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4): 3-month periods dividing the fiscal year for business reporting.
Calendar year quarters:
- Q1 = January, February, March (90/91 days)
- Q2 = April, May, June (91 days)
- Q3 = July, August, September (92 days)
- Q4 = October, November, December (92 days)
Fiscal year variations: Many companies/governments use different fiscal years:
- US federal government: Oct 1 - Sep 30 (Q1 = Oct-Dec)
- UK government: Apr 1 - Mar 31 (Q1 = Apr-Jun)
- Japan/India: Apr 1 - Mar 31
- Australia: Jul 1 - Jun 30
Why quarters? Balance between frequent reporting (not too infrequent like annual) and manageable workload (not too frequent like monthly for major reporting).
11. How do I calculate age in months?
Formula: (Current year - Birth year) × 12 + (Current month - Birth month)
Example 1: Born March 15, 2020, today is June 15, 2024
- (2024 - 2020) × 12 + (6 - 3) = 4 × 12 + 3 = 51 months old
Example 2: Born November 20, 2022, today is January 10, 2024
- (2024 - 2022) × 12 + (1 - 11) = 2 × 12 - 10 = 14 months old
Precision note: Calculation above assumes same day of month. For exact age:
- If current day ≥ birth day: Use formula above
- If current day < birth day: Subtract 1 month (haven't reached full month yet)
When to use months for age:
- 0-23 months: Infant/toddler development changes rapidly monthly
- 24+ months: Typically switch to years ("2 years old" not "24 months old")
12. What's the difference between bi-monthly and semi-monthly?
Confusing terminology:
Bi-monthly = Ambiguous (avoid using)
- Meaning 1: Every 2 months (6 times per year)
- Meaning 2: Twice per month (24 times per year)
Semi-monthly = Twice per month (24 times per year)
- Example: Paycheck on 1st and 15th of each month
- 12 months × 2 = 24 pay periods per year
Bi-weekly = Every 2 weeks (26 times per year, not 24)
- Example: Paycheck every other Friday
- 52 weeks ÷ 2 = 26 pay periods per year
Recommendation: Avoid "bi-monthly" (ambiguous). Use "every 2 months" (6×/year) or "twice per month"/"semi-monthly" (24×/year).
About Fortnight (fn)
How many days are in a fortnight?
Exactly 14 days.
A fortnight is always 14 consecutive days, equivalent to two full weeks (7 days × 2).
Time equivalents:
- 336 hours
- 20,160 minutes
- 1,209,600 seconds
How many weeks make a fortnight?
Exactly 2 weeks = 1 fortnight.
This is the definition of the term: "fortnight" literally means "fourteen nights" (two weeks).
Where does the word "fortnight" come from?
From Old English "fēowertīene niht" (fourteen nights).
Etymology:
- "Fēowertīene" = fourteen
- "Niht" = night
Historical context: Ancient Germanic peoples counted time by nights rather than days, observing lunar cycles. The fortnight represents approximately half a lunar month (~29.5 days ÷ 2).
Evolution: Old English "fēowertīene niht" → Middle English "fourtenyght" → Modern English "fortnight"
Is "fortnight" commonly used everywhere?
No—usage is heavily geographic.
Common in:
- United Kingdom (standard term)
- Ireland (standard term)
- Australia (most common time unit for pay/rent)
- New Zealand (standard term)
- Other Commonwealth nations (varying frequency)
Rare in:
- United States (sounds archaic; "two weeks" preferred)
- Canada (mixed usage; more American influence)
Result: "Fortnight" is standard British/Commonwealth English but virtually unused in American English.
What's the difference between fortnight and bi-weekly?
Fortnight = unambiguous 14-day period
Bi-weekly = ambiguous; two possible meanings:
- Every two weeks (synonymous with fortnightly)
- Twice per week
Recommendation: Use "fortnight" or "every two weeks" to avoid confusion. "Bi-weekly" can mislead readers.
Example:
- Ambiguous: "Bi-weekly payroll" (twice per week or every two weeks?)
- Clear: "Fortnightly payroll" (unambiguous: every 14 days)
How many fortnights are in a year?
Approximately 26.09 fortnights per year.
Calculation: 365.25 days (average year with leap years) ÷ 14 days = 26.089 fortnights
Payroll standard: Employers use 26 pay periods for fortnightly wages, slightly underestimating the true annual length (creates an extra day or two per year).
How do I convert monthly rent to fortnightly rent?
Formula: Fortnight rent = Monthly rent × 12 ÷ 26
Example:
- Monthly rent: $1,500
- $1,500 × 12 ÷ 26 = $692.31 per fortnight
Reverse (fortnight to month): Monthly rent = Fortnight rent × 26 ÷ 12
Example:
- Fortnight rent: $700
- $700 × 26 ÷ 12 = $1,516.67 per month
Is a fortnight half a month?
Approximately, but not exactly.
Fortnight: 14 days (fixed)
Half month: Varies by month
- February: 14 days (coincidentally equal!)
- January, March, May, July, August, October, December: 15.5 days
- April, June, September, November: 15 days
Average half month: 30.44 ÷ 2 = 15.22 days (8.7% longer than fortnight)
Conclusion: Fortnight ≈ half month, but they're distinct concepts.
Why do Australians use fortnights so much?
Historical and practical reasons:
1. British colonial influence: Australia inherited British administrative and commercial systems, including fortnightly wage cycles.
2. Payroll alignment: Fortnightly wages became standard, so rent, bills, and budgeting adapted to match pay cycles.
3. Mathematical convenience: 26 fortnights per year simplifies annual calculations compared to 52 weeks.
4. Cultural entrenchment: Generations of Australians have grown up with fortnightly systems, making it the natural default.
Result: Australia likely uses "fortnight" more frequently than any other nation, including the UK.
Do Americans understand "fortnight"?
Most recognize it, but few use it.
Recognition:
- Americans encounter "fortnight" in British literature, period dramas, and historical contexts
- Educated Americans know it means "two weeks"
Usage:
- Virtually never used in everyday American speech
- Sounds archaic, old-fashioned, or excessively formal
Recommendation: When addressing American audiences, use "two weeks" instead of "fortnight" to ensure clarity.
Conversion Table: Month to Fortnight
| Month (mo) | Fortnight (fn) |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1.087 |
| 1 | 2.174 |
| 1.5 | 3.261 |
| 2 | 4.348 |
| 5 | 10.87 |
| 10 | 21.741 |
| 25 | 54.352 |
| 50 | 108.703 |
| 100 | 217.406 |
| 250 | 543.516 |
| 500 | 1,087.031 |
| 1,000 | 2,174.063 |
People Also Ask
How do I convert Month to Fortnight?
To convert Month to Fortnight, enter the value in Month in the calculator above. The conversion will happen automatically. Use our free online converter for instant and accurate results. You can also visit our time converter page to convert between other units in this category.
Learn more →What is the conversion factor from Month to Fortnight?
The conversion factor depends on the specific relationship between Month and Fortnight. You can find the exact conversion formula and factor on this page. Our calculator handles all calculations automatically. See the conversion table above for common values.
Can I convert Fortnight back to Month?
Yes! You can easily convert Fortnight back to Month by using the swap button (⇌) in the calculator above, or by visiting our Fortnight to Month converter page. You can also explore other time conversions on our category page.
Learn more →What are common uses for Month and Fortnight?
Month and Fortnight are both standard units used in time measurements. They are commonly used in various applications including engineering, construction, cooking, and scientific research. Browse our time converter for more conversion options.
For more time conversion questions, visit our FAQ page or explore our conversion guides.
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Verified Against Authority Standards
All conversion formulas have been verified against international standards and authoritative sources to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability.
National Institute of Standards and Technology — Official time standards and definitions
Bureau International des Poids et Mesures — Definition of the SI base unit for time
Last verified: December 3, 2025