先々月(せんせんげつ)

Formed by doubling 先(せん) in 先月(せんげつ) (last month). This doubling pattern is productive in Japanese time words.

Related time words

• 先月(せんげつ): last month
• 先々月(せんせんげつ): the month before last
• 先週(せんしゅう): last week
• 先々週(せんせんしゅう): the week before last
• 一昨年(おととし): the year before last (note: uses a different pattern)

Usage

Functions as a time noun that can modify verbs directly without a particle, or take の to modify another noun: 先々月(せんせんげつ)の売(う)り上(あ)げ (sales from the month before last). For months further back, use ～か月前(げつまえ): 三(さん)か月前(げつまえ) (three months ago).