Days of the Week in Every Language
Whether you are planning a trip abroad, connecting with international colleagues, or simply expanding your linguistic horizons, learning the days of the week is one of the most essential first steps in mastering a new language. These seven simple words form the backbone of our daily schedules, allowing us to make plans, book flights, and navigate everyday life.
Fascinatingly, the names for the days of the week often reveal deep cultural and historical roots. In many Romance languages, the days are named after celestial bodies and ancient Roman gods (for example, Lunes in Spanish comes from the moon). In contrast, languages like Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese use numerical systems to identify the days, offering a completely different logical approach to timekeeping.
To help you on your journey, we have compiled comprehensive guides for 20 different languages. Because reading a word is only half the battle, every single page includes integrated Web Speech API audio pronunciation. This means you can click and listen to the exact native pronunciation of each day, ensuring you sound natural and confident. Explore our collection below and start mastering the global calendar today!
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Audio Included: All pages include Web Speech API audio pronunciation — click the speaker icon next to any word to hear the native pronunciation of each day.
Latin Script6
Cyrillic Script1
Arabic Script1
Asian Scripts2
Monday to Sunday, language by language
Eight languages are covered in full on this page: the seven day names with romanisation and pronunciation, where the names come from, and the questions learners ask most. French and Spanish have their own detailed pages.
Days of the Week in Arabic
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Arabic Days of the Week in Arabic [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Arabic ( أيام الأسبوع ) is highly logical if you already know basic Arabic numbers. The Arabic calendar week starts on Sunday, and the names for Sunday through Thursday are directly derived from the numbers one through five.
| English | Arabic | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | الاثنين | |
| Tuesday | الثلاثاء | |
| Wednesday | الأربعاء | |
| Thursday | الخميس | |
| Friday | الجمعة | |
| Saturday | السبت | |
| Sunday | الأحد |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Arabic is written and read from right to left. When pronouncing the days of the week, you will notice they all begin with "Al-" (ال), which is the definite article meaning "the".
When using these days in a sentence, you typically use the word "yawm" (يوم), meaning "day", before the name of the day. For example, to say "on Sunday," you would say "fi yawm al-ahad" (في يوم الأحد).
Cultural Notes & Origins
The Arabic days of the week are deeply tied to numerical order and religious significance:
Because Friday is the holy day in Islam, the weekend in most Arabic-speaking countries falls on Friday and Saturday. If you are wondering how many days in a week people work in the Middle East, it is still five days, but the work week runs from Sunday to Thursday.
- الأحد (Al-Ahad): Sunday. Derived from "wahid" (one) — the first day.
- الاثنين (Al-Ithnayn): Monday. Derived from "ithnan" (two) — the second day.
- الثلاثاء (Ath-Thulathaa'): Tuesday. Derived from "thalatha" (three) — the third day.
- الأربعاء (Al-Arbi'aa'): Wednesday. Derived from "arba'a" (four) — the fourth day.
- الخميس (Al-Khamees): Thursday. Derived from "khamsa" (five) — the fifth day.
- الجمعة (Al-Jumu'ah): Friday. This breaks the number pattern. It means "the gathering" or "the assembly," referring to the mandatory Friday congregational prayers in Islam.
- السبت (As-Sabt): Saturday. Derived from the concept of Sabbath or rest.
Arabic: quick questions
What is the first day of the week in Arabic countries?
In most Arabic-speaking countries, the official work week begins on Sunday (الأحد).
Why do Arabic days sound like numbers?
The days from Sunday to Thursday are derived directly from the Arabic numbers one through five.
What is the Arabic weekend?
The weekend in most Middle Eastern countries is Friday and Saturday, as Friday is the holy day of congregational prayer.
Are days of the week capitalized in Arabic?
The Arabic script does not have capital or lowercase letters, so capitalization does not apply.
Days of the Week in Dutch
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Dutch Days of the Week in Dutch [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Dutch ( de dagen van de week ) is a great starting point for anyone studying the language. Because Dutch is a Germanic language, English speakers will find many of these words quite familiar and relatively easy to memorize.
| English | Dutch | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | maandag | |
| Tuesday | dinsdag | |
| Wednesday | woensdag | |
| Thursday | donderdag | |
| Friday | vrijdag | |
| Saturday | zaterdag | |
| Sunday | zondag |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Dutch pronunciation features some sounds that don't exist in English, most notably the hard "g" and "ch" sounds, which are pronounced from the back of the throat (similar to the Scottish "loch"). You will notice that every day of the week ends in -dag , which simply means "day". The "g" at the end of "dag" is pronounced with this guttural sound.
When using these days in a sentence, remember that they are not capitalized. To say "on Monday," you use the preposition "op": "op maandag". If you want to say you do something regularly on a specific day, you add an "s" to the end: "maandags" means "on Mondays" or "every Monday".
Cultural Notes & Origins
Like English and German, the Dutch days of the week are named after Germanic gods and celestial bodies:
In the Netherlands, the work week runs from maandag to vrijdag. The Dutch highly value their work-life balance, and it is very common for people to work four days a week instead of five. If you are wondering how many days in a week the average Dutch person works, part-time schedules are among the most prevalent in Europe!
- Maandag: Day of the Moon ( Maan ).
- Dinsdag: Named after Thingsus (Tyr), the god of assembly and war.
- Woensdag: Wodan's day (Odin), the chief Germanic god.
- Donderdag: Donar's day (Thor), the god of thunder.
- Vrijdag: Freya's day, the goddess of love and beauty.
- Zaterdag: Saturn's day, borrowed from the Roman god Saturn.
- Zondag: Day of the Sun ( Zon ).
Dutch: quick questions
Are days of the week capitalized in Dutch?
No, days of the week are not capitalized in Dutch unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence.
What is the first day of the week in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands and Belgium, the calendar week officially begins on Monday (maandag).
How do you say "weekend" in Dutch?
The Dutch use the English loanword, so it is simply called "het weekend".
Are Dutch days masculine or feminine?
All days of the week in Dutch are common gender (de-words), so you use the article "de" (e.g., de maandag).
Days of the Week in German
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in German Days of the Week in German [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in German ( die Wochentage ) is quite intuitive for English speakers, as both languages share Germanic roots. You will notice many similarities in how the days sound and are structured.
| English | German | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Montag | mohn-tahk | |
| Tuesday | Dienstag | deen-stahk | |
| Wednesday | Mittwoch | mit-vohkh | |
| Thursday | Donnerstag | don-ers-tahk | |
| Friday | Freitag | fry-tahk | |
| Saturday | Samstag | zahm-stahk | |
| Sunday | Sonntag | zon-tahk |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Unlike Romance languages, German capitalizes all nouns , including the days of the week. When you want to say "on Monday," you use the preposition "am" (a contraction of an + dem): "am Montag".
If you want to express that something happens regularly on a specific day, you add an "s" to the end of the day and make it lowercase (because it becomes an adverb). For example, "montags" means "on Mondays" or "every Monday".
Cultural Notes & Origins
The German days of the week are named after Germanic and Norse gods, which is why they sound so similar to English:
In Germany, Sunday ( Sonntag ) is strictly observed as a day of rest ( Ruhetag ). Almost all shops and supermarkets are closed by law. If you are wondering how many days in a week you can go shopping in Germany, it is generally only six!
- Montag: Day of the Moon.
- Dienstag: Named after Tyr (or Tiw), the god of war and single combat.
- Mittwoch: Literally "mid-week". It replaced the older name Wodanstag (Odin's day) due to Christian influence.
- Donnerstag: Day of Donar (Thor), the god of thunder.
- Freitag: Day of Frigg or Freya, the goddess of love and beauty.
- Samstag: Derived from the Sabbath.
- Sonntag: Day of the Sun.
German: quick questions
Are days of the week capitalized in German?
Yes! In German, all nouns are capitalized, and since days of the week are nouns, they must always start with a capital letter.
Why doesn't Wednesday end in "tag"?
Mittwoch literally translates to "mid-week". It is the only day of the week in German that does not end with the word "tag" (day).
Is there another word for Saturday in German?
Yes, in some northern and eastern parts of Germany, you might hear "Sonnabend" (literally "Sunday eve") instead of Samstag.
What gender are the days of the week in German?
All days of the week in German are masculine, so they take the article "der" (e.g., der Montag).
Days of the Week in Italian
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Italian Days of the Week in Italian [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Italian ( i giorni della settimana ) is essential for making plans, booking trains, or simply chatting about your schedule in Italy. The Italian days are melodic and deeply connected to their Latin roots.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | lunedì | loo-neh-dee | |
| Tuesday | martedì | mahr-teh-dee | |
| Wednesday | mercoledì | mair-coh-leh-dee | |
| Thursday | giovedì | joh-veh-dee | |
| Friday | venerdì | veh-nair-dee | |
| Saturday | sabato | sah-bah-doh | |
| Sunday | domenica | doh-meh-nee-cah |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Notice that Monday through Friday all end in -dì with a grave accent. This accent is crucial because it tells you to stress the final syllable. For example, lunedì is pronounced loo-neh-DEE.
In Italian, you do not use a preposition like "on" before the day of the week. To say "I'll see you on Tuesday," you simply say "Ci vediamo martedì." If you want to express a recurring event, like "I go to the gym on Tuesdays," you use the definite article: "Il martedì vado in palestra."
Cultural Notes & Origins
The Italian days of the week are a direct inheritance from the Roman Empire, named after the planets and gods:
In Italy, the week officially begins on Monday. The weekend ( il fine settimana ) is sacred, especially Sunday, which is traditionally reserved for a large family lunch ( il pranzo della domenica ). If you want to know how many days in a week Italians work, it is typically five, though some shops may close on Monday mornings or Thursday afternoons depending on the region.
- Lunedì: Day of the Moon ( Luna ).
- Martedì: Day of Mars ( Marte ).
- Mercoledì: Day of Mercury ( Mercurio ).
- Giovedì: Day of Jupiter ( Giove ).
- Venerdì: Day of Venus ( Venere ).
- Sabato: From the Hebrew Shabbat (Sabbath).
- Domenica: From Latin Dominica , meaning "Day of the Lord".
Italian: quick questions
Are days of the week capitalized in Italian?
No, days of the week are not capitalized in Italian unless they are at the beginning of a sentence.
Why do Italian days end with an accent?
Monday through Friday end in "dì" (meaning day) with a grave accent, indicating the stress falls on the final syllable.
Are Italian days masculine or feminine?
Monday through Saturday are masculine (il lunedì, il sabato). Sunday (la domenica) is the only feminine day.
How do you say "on Monday" in Italian?
If it is a specific Monday, you just say "lunedì" (e.g., "Lunedì vado a Roma"). If it is every Monday, you use the article "il lunedì".
Days of the Week in Japanese
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Japanese Days of the Week in Japanese [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Japanese is a fascinating journey into elemental kanji. Every day of the week ends with the suffix yōbi (曜日), meaning "day of the week." The first character of each day represents a natural element or celestial body.
| English | Kanji | Romaji | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 | kayōbi | |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 | suiyōbi | |
| Thursday | 木曜日 | mokuyōbi | |
| Friday | 金曜日 | kinyōbi | |
| Saturday | 土曜日 | doyōbi | |
| Sunday | 日曜日 | nichiyōbi |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Japanese pronunciation is relatively straightforward for English speakers, as the vowel sounds are consistent. The line over the "o" in yōbi indicates a long vowel sound, meaning you hold the "o" sound slightly longer.
When writing dates or schedules, Japanese people frequently abbreviate the days by dropping the "yōbi" and just writing the first kanji in parentheses. For example, Monday is written as (月).
Cultural Notes & Origins
The Japanese days of the week are based on the "Seven Luminaries" concept, which originated in ancient Babylon, traveled through China, and was adopted in Japan. Each day corresponds to a visible celestial body and a natural element:
In modern Japan, the work week is typically Monday through Friday. If you are wondering how many days in a week Japanese students attend school, it used to be six days (including half-days on Saturday), but the system transitioned to a five-day school week in the early 2000s.
- 月曜日 (Monday): 月 means Moon. (Moon's day)
- 火曜日 (Tuesday): 火 means Fire, representing Mars.
- 水曜日 (Wednesday): 水 means Water, representing Mercury.
- 木曜日 (Thursday): 木 means Wood/Tree, representing Jupiter.
- 金曜日 (Friday): 金 means Gold/Metal, representing Venus.
- 土曜日 (Saturday): 土 means Earth/Soil, representing Saturn.
- 日曜日 (Sunday): 日 means Sun. (Sun's day)
Japanese: quick questions
What does "yōbi" mean in Japanese?
"Yōbi" (曜日) translates to "day of the week". Every day in Japanese ends with this suffix.
What is the first day of the week in Japan?
Traditionally and on most calendars, Sunday (日曜日) is considered the first day of the week, though the work week begins on Monday.
How do you abbreviate days of the week in Japanese?
You simply use the first kanji character. For example, Monday (月曜日) is abbreviated as 月 (getsu).
Are the Japanese days related to planets?
Yes, the naming system is based on the "Seven Luminaries" (sun, moon, and five visible planets), which aligns perfectly with the Western planetary naming system.
Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Mandarin Chinese is incredibly logical. Once you know the word for "week" and the numbers one through six, you can instantly name almost every day of the week!
| English | Hanzi | Pinyin | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 星期一 | xīngqī yī | |
| Tuesday | 星期二 | xīngqī èr | |
| Wednesday | 星期三 | xīngqī sān | |
| Thursday | 星期四 | xīngqī sì | |
| Friday | 星期五 | xīngqī wǔ | |
| Saturday | 星期六 | xīngqī liù | |
| Sunday | 星期日 | xīngqī rì |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Mandarin is a tonal language, meaning the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of the word. The marks above the vowels in the pinyin indicate the tone. For example, the flat line in xīngqī means you keep your voice high and steady (first tone).
The structure is simply the word for week ( 星期 - xīngqī ) followed by a number. Monday is week-one, Tuesday is week-two, and so on. The only exception is Sunday, which uses the character for sun ( 日 - rì ) or sky ( 天 - tiān ) instead of the number seven.
Cultural Notes & Origins
The word xīngqī (星期) literally translates to "star period." This reflects ancient astronomical observations where time was tracked by the movement of celestial bodies.
In modern China, the work week runs from Monday to Friday. However, due to the "Golden Week" national holidays, the government sometimes mandates weekend work days to compensate for long consecutive days off. If you are wondering how many days in a week people work in China, it is officially five, but the "996" work culture (9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week) is notoriously common in the tech industry.
Mandarin Chinese: quick questions
Why is Sunday not "xīngqī qī" (week seven)?
Sunday breaks the numerical pattern. Instead of using the number seven, it uses the character for sun (日 - rì) or sky/heaven (天 - tiān).
Are there other ways to say the days of the week in Chinese?
Yes! Besides "xīngqī", you can also use "lǐbài" (礼拜) which is slightly more casual, or "zhōu" (周) which is more formal and used in written Chinese.
What is the first day of the week in China?
In China, the week officially begins on Monday (星期一).
Are traditional and simplified characters different for days of the week?
For the standard "xīngqī" format, the characters are exactly the same in both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Days of the Week in Portuguese
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Portuguese Days of the Week in Portuguese [AdSense Responsive Slot] 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.
| 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.
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!
- 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).
Portuguese: quick 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).
Days of the Week in Russian
Languages — Days of the Week Days of the Week in Russian Days of the Week in Russian [AdSense Responsive Slot] Learning the days of the week in Russian ( дни недели ) is an excellent way to practice reading the Cyrillic alphabet. Unlike English or Romance languages, Russian days are not named after gods or planets; instead, they are mostly based on numbers and their position in the week.
| English | Russian | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | понедельник | |
| Tuesday | вторник | |
| Wednesday | среда | |
| Thursday | четверг | |
| Friday | пятница | |
| Saturday | суббота | |
| Sunday | воскресенье |
Pronunciation Guide & Usage
Russian pronunciation relies heavily on word stress. Vowels in unstressed syllables are often reduced. For example, the "o" in понедельник (Monday) sounds more like an "a" or a schwa because the stress falls on the third syllable.
When talking about doing something on a specific day, Russian uses the preposition в (or во before certain consonant clusters like in Tuesday) followed by the accusative case. For masculine days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) and the neuter day (Sunday), the word doesn't change: в понедельник . For feminine days (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), the ending changes from -а/-я to -у/-ю: в среду (on Wednesday).
Cultural Notes & Origins
The Russian naming convention for the days of the week is highly logical and numerical, counting from Monday:
In Russia, the week officially starts on Monday. If you are wondering how many days in a week Russians work, the standard is a five-day work week, with Saturday and Sunday serving as the weekend ( выходные ).
- Понедельник (Monday): Literally means "the day after the week/no-work day".
- Вторник (Tuesday): From the word второй (second), meaning the second day.
- Среда (Wednesday): From the word середина (middle), as it is the middle of the work week.
- Четверг (Thursday): From the word четвёртый (fourth).
- Пятница (Friday): From the word пятый (fifth).
- Суббота (Saturday): Derived from the Hebrew word Sabbath .
- Воскресенье (Sunday): Means "Resurrection", referring to the Christian belief of Jesus's resurrection.
Russian: quick questions
Are days of the week capitalized in Russian?
No, days of the week are written in lowercase in Russian unless they are the first word of a sentence.
What is the first day of the week in Russia?
In Russia, the calendar week officially begins on Monday (понедельник).
How do you say "on Monday" in Russian?
You use the preposition "в" (or "во" for Tuesday) plus the accusative case. So "on Monday" is "в понедельник" (v ponedelnik).
Are Russian days masculine or feminine?
They vary. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday are masculine. Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday are feminine. Sunday is neuter.
Did You Know?
Norse Mythology
The names of the days of the week in English come from Germanic and Norse mythology. For example, Wednesday is Woden's day, Thursday is Thor's day, and Friday is Frigg's day.
Celestial Bodies
In many Romance languages, the days of the week are named after celestial bodies and Roman gods. In Spanish, Lunes is Moon, Martes is Mars, and Miércoles is Mercury.
Numbered Days
Some languages have different naming conventions entirely. In Portuguese, days are numbered starting from Monday (segunda-feira = second day, terça-feira = third day).
First Steps
Learning days of the week is universally one of the first things language learners study, as it's absolutely essential for daily communication, scheduling, and travel.
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