Learn & Pronounce Days of the Week in 16 Languages - FREE Tools!

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Why Days of the Week Matter

The days of the week form a fundamental structure in human civilization, organizing our lives across cultures and time periods. These seven-day cycles have cultural, logistical, and linguistic relevance that extends far beyond mere calendar notation.

Culturally, different days hold special significance across religions and societies. Sunday is considered holy in Christianity, while Friday prayers are central to Islamic practice. In many Asian cultures, certain days are considered more auspicious for important events or decisions. Understanding these cultural associations helps us navigate global communication and respect diverse traditions.

Linguistically, the names of weekdays offer fascinating insights into etymology and cultural history. In English and many European languages, days are named after Norse gods, Roman deities, and celestial bodies, creating a living connection to ancient mythologies. Learning these patterns makes mastering days of the week in multiple languages significantly easier.

Practically, the days of the week structure our modern world in countless ways—from business hours and school schedules to flight pricing and entertainment programming. Being fluent with weekday vocabulary is essential for basic communication, travel planning, and administrative tasks in any language.

Interactive Week Wheel

Click on any day to explore its translations, origins, and significance across cultures. The interactive wheel helps visualize the cyclical nature of our seven-day week.

Interactive week wheel showing days of the week

Select a day on the wheel

Origins & Etymology of the Days of the Week

The modern English names for the days of the week have fascinating origins that blend Norse mythology, Roman gods, and planetary astronomy—a linguistic tapestry that reveals how ancient cultures understood time and the cosmos.

Roman and Planetary Influences

The Romans named their days after celestial bodies: Sun (Sunday), Moon (Monday), Mars (Tuesday), Mercury (Wednesday), Jupiter (Thursday), Venus (Friday), and Saturn (Saturday). This system spread throughout much of Europe and was eventually adapted by Germanic peoples.

Norse and Germanic Gods

Germanic cultures maintained the Roman planetary system but substituted their own gods for some of the Roman deities. Tuesday comes from "Tiu's day" (Tiu or Tyr was the Norse god of war, equivalent to Mars). Wednesday derives from "Woden's day" (Woden or Odin was equivalent to Mercury). Thursday comes from "Thor's day" (Thor, god of thunder, was equated with Jupiter). Friday stems from "Frigg's day" or "Freya's day" (Norse goddesses associated with Venus).

Global Patterns

Interestingly, many cultures independently developed seven-day weeks based on lunar cycles and/or celestial observations. In East Asian languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, the days are still explicitly named after the Sun, Moon, and the five visible planets, showing how astronomical observation shaped time-keeping worldwide.

Cultural Adaptations

As languages and cultures evolved, these names underwent fascinating transformations. For instance, in Romance languages like Spanish and French, the planetary connections remain more evident (lunes/lundi from Luna/Moon, martes/mardi from Mars) than in English where the Norse influence dominates several days.

Capitalization & Grammar Rules for Days of the Week

Understanding whether days of the week are capitalized varies by language and can be a common point of confusion for language learners and writers. Here's a quick guide to capitalization rules across major languages:

English Capitalization

In English, the days of the week are always capitalized as they are proper nouns. This applies in all contexts: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday must always begin with capital letters.

Spanish Capitalization

Unlike English, days of the week in Spanish are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. The correct forms are: lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, and domingo.

French Capitalization

Similar to Spanish, French days of the week are not capitalized: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, and dimanche all begin with lowercase letters.

German Capitalization

In German, all nouns are capitalized, including days of the week: Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch, Donnerstag, Freitag, Samstag/Sonnabend, and Sonntag.

FREE Audio Guides: Days of the Week in 16 Languages

Download free pronunciation guides and audio files to learn weekday names perfectly. Perfect for travelers, language learners, and students preparing for exams. No registration required!

Spanish Days of the Week

  • Monday: lunes [loo-nes]
  • Tuesday: martes [mar-tes]
  • Wednesday: miércoles [mee-air-ko-les]
  • Thursday: jueves [hwe-ves]
  • Friday: viernes [vee-air-nes]
  • Saturday: sábado [sah-bah-do]
  • Sunday: domingo [doe-meen-go]
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French Days of the Week

  • Monday: lundi [lun-dee]
  • Tuesday: mardi [mar-dee]
  • Wednesday: mercredi [mer-kruh-dee]
  • Thursday: jeudi [zhuh-dee]
  • Friday: vendredi [vahn-druh-dee]
  • Saturday: samedi [sam-dee]
  • Sunday: dimanche [dee-mahnsh]
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Japanese Days of the Week

  • Monday: 月曜日 (getsuyōbi)
  • Tuesday: 火曜日 (kayōbi)
  • Wednesday: 水曜日 (suiyōbi)
  • Thursday: 木曜日 (mokuyōbi)
  • Friday: 金曜日 (kin'yōbi)
  • Saturday: 土曜日 (doyōbi)
  • Sunday: 日曜日 (nichiyōbi)
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German Days of the Week

  • Monday: Montag
  • Tuesday: Dienstag
  • Wednesday: Mittwoch
  • Thursday: Donnerstag
  • Friday: Freitag
  • Saturday: Samstag
  • Sunday: Sonntag
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More Languages:

Songs & Mnemonics for Learning Days of the Week

Songs and mnemonics are powerful learning tools that help children and language learners easily memorize the days of the week. These catchy tunes and memory aids are used worldwide in classrooms and homes.

The Addams Family Days of the Week Song

One of the most popular English songs for learning the days of the week is set to the iconic Addams Family theme. The simple lyrics replace snapping with clapping:

Days of the week! (clap, clap)
Days of the week! (clap, clap)
Days of the week, days of the week, days of the week! (clap, clap)
There's Sunday and there's Monday, there's Tuesday and there's Wednesday,
There's Thursday and there's Friday, and then there's Saturday!

The Singing Walrus Days of the Week

The Singing Walrus offers another popular educational song that has garnered millions of views on YouTube. Its upbeat tempo and repetitive structure helps children master weekday vocabulary quickly.

Language-Specific Memory Aids

Many languages have their own songs and acronyms to help with memorization. For instance, Spanish teachers often use the acronym "LMMJVSD" (Lunes, Martes, Miércoles, Jueves, Viernes, Sábado, Domingo) as a quick reference.

Days of the Week song reference
Sheet music snippet for a popular days of the week song used in elementary education

Practical Tips Related to Days of the Week

What Days of the Week Are Cheapest to Fly?

Travel experts often cite Tuesday and Wednesday as the cheapest days of the week to fly. According to aviation data analysis, midweek departures can save travelers anywhere from 15-20% compared to weekend flights. This pattern occurs because business travelers typically fly on Mondays and Fridays, while leisure travelers prefer weekends, leaving Tuesday and Wednesday with lower demand.

Productivity and the Days of the Week

Research suggests that different days of the week are optimal for specific tasks. Monday mornings are ideal for planning and organization, while Tuesday and Wednesday often represent peak productivity for complex projects. Thursday is excellent for collaborative work and meetings, while Friday afternoons are best suited for creative thinking and reflection.

Days of the week calendar view
A calendar highlighting different days of the week for optimal task scheduling

Frequently Asked Questions About Days of the Week

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What are the days of the week named after?

The English days of the week derive from a combination of Norse and Roman influences. Sunday (Sun's day) and Monday (Moon's day) are named after celestial bodies. Tuesday comes from Tiu or Tyr (Norse god of war), Wednesday from Woden (Odin), Thursday from Thor (god of thunder), Friday from Frigg or Freya (goddess of love), and Saturday from the Roman god Saturn.

Are days of the week capitalized in English?

Yes, in English, the days of the week are always capitalized because they are proper nouns. This applies to Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in all contexts, whether at the beginning of a sentence or in the middle of text.

How do you say the days of the week in Spanish?

The days of the week in Spanish are: lunes (Monday), martes (Tuesday), miércoles (Wednesday), jueves (Thursday), viernes (Friday), sábado (Saturday), and domingo (Sunday). Unlike in English, these are not capitalized in Spanish unless they begin a sentence.

What are the 7 days of Holy Week?

Holy Week in Christianity includes: Palm Sunday (commemorating Jesus's entry into Jerusalem), Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday, Holy Wednesday (or Spy Wednesday), Maundy Thursday (Last Supper), Good Friday (crucifixion), and Holy Saturday (vigil before Easter). Easter Sunday, while technically not part of Holy Week, follows immediately after.

How did the days of the week get their names?

The seven-day week originated in ancient Mesopotamia and was later adopted by Jews, Greeks, and Romans. The Romans named days after planets and gods (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn). Germanic peoples later substituted their own gods for some Roman deities (Tiu/Tyr for Mars, Woden/Odin for Mercury, Thor for Jupiter, Frigg/Freya for Venus), creating the English names we use today.

Are the days of the week capitalized in Spanish?

No, unlike in English, the days of the week in Spanish are not capitalized. The correct forms are lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, and domingo. They are only capitalized when they begin a sentence, following standard Spanish capitalization rules.

What are the cheapest days of the week to fly?

According to travel industry data, Tuesday and Wednesday are typically the cheapest days of the week to fly. Midweek flights often cost 15-20% less than weekend flights due to lower demand. Monday and Friday are popular with business travelers, while Saturday and Sunday are preferred by leisure travelers, leaving Tuesday and Wednesday with the lowest booking rates and better deals.

Where did the names of the days of the week come from?

The English names for days of the week come from a blend of Anglo-Saxon and Norse mythology, overlaid on a Roman system of naming days after planets. Sunday and Monday refer to the Sun and Moon. Tuesday is named after Tiu (Norse god of war), Wednesday after Woden (chief deity), Thursday after Thor (god of thunder), Friday after Frigg (goddess of marriage), and Saturday retained its Latin origin from Saturn.