Days of the Week in Portuguese
The days of the week in Portuguese (os dias da semana) are unique among Romance languages. Instead of naming the weekdays after Roman gods and planets, Portuguese uses a numbered system based on Catholic liturgy.
Quick Answer Table
| English | Portuguese | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | segunda-feira | seh-goon-dah fay-rah | |
| Tuesday | terça-feira | tair-sah fay-rah | |
| Wednesday | quarta-feira | kwar-tah fay-rah | |
| Thursday | quinta-feira | keen-tah fay-rah | |
| Friday | sexta-feira | sess-tah fay-rah | |
| Saturday | sábado | sah-bah-doh | |
| Sunday | domingo | doh-meen-goh |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
In spoken Portuguese, especially in Brazil, it is very common to drop the word "feira". So instead of saying "segunda-feira", people will simply say "segunda".
When talking about something happening on a specific day, you use the preposition "na" for Monday-Friday (because they are feminine) and "no" for Saturday and Sunday (because they are masculine). For example: "Eu trabalho na segunda" (I work on Monday) and "Eu descanso no domingo" (I rest on Sunday).
Cultural Notes & Origins
The Portuguese naming system was established by Martin of Braga, a 6th-century bishop who believed that Christians should not use the names of pagan gods for the days of the week.
- Segunda-feira: Second fair (Monday).
- Terça-feira: Third fair (Tuesday).
- Quarta-feira: Fourth fair (Wednesday).
- Quinta-feira: Fifth fair (Thursday).
- Sexta-feira: Sixth fair (Friday).
- Sábado: From the Hebrew Sabbath.
- Domingo: From the Latin dies Dominica (Day of the Lord).
Because Sunday is considered the first day of the week in this religious context, Monday becomes the "second fair" (segunda-feira). If you are exploring how many days in a week there are, the Portuguese language makes the counting explicit right in the names!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Portuguese days end in "feira"?
The word "feira" means fair or market. Historically, the days following Easter Sunday were designated as market days for rest and celebration, and this naming convention eventually applied to the whole year.
Are days of the week capitalized in Portuguese?
No, days of the week are written in lowercase in Portuguese unless they start a sentence.
Do people always say "feira"?
In casual conversation, especially in Brazil, people often drop the "feira" and just say "segunda", "terça", etc.
Are Portuguese days masculine or feminine?
Monday through Friday (the "feiras") are feminine (a segunda-feira). Saturday and Sunday are masculine (o sábado, o domingo).
Related Pages
Days of the Week in Spanish
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Days of the Week in French
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Days of the Week in Italian
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How Many Days in a Week?
Explore the origins of the 7-day week.