Days of the Week in French

The days of the week in French (les jours de la semaine) have Latin origins and clearly reflect the Roman planetary tradition. Like other Romance languages, French day names are derived from Latin terms that honor Roman gods and celestial bodies.

French weekday names showcase the language's evolution from Latin, with clear connections to the planetary gods. For instance, "lundi" comes from Luna (Moon), "mardi" from Mars, and so on. These etymological connections make French days relatively easy to learn for speakers of other Romance languages like Spanish or Italian.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about days of the week in French, including proper pronunciation, cultural context, and practical usage. Whether you're a beginner French learner or looking to refine your knowledge, this resource will help you master les jours de la semaine.

In French, days of the week are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. This is different from English, where days are always capitalized, and follows the general pattern of Romance languages.

Examples of Correct Capitalization

• Correct: "Le lundi est le premier jour de la semaine." (Monday is the first day of the week.)
• Correct: "Lundi prochain, j'irai à Paris." (Next Monday, I will go to Paris.)
• Incorrect: "Le Lundi est le premier jour de la semaine." (Incorrect capitalization)

Are Days of the Week Capitalized in French?

No, unlike in English where days of the week are always capitalized as proper nouns, French days of the week are considered common nouns and are not capitalized in most contexts. This applies to all seven days: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, and dimanche.

Using Definite Articles (le, les)

In French, days of the week are typically used with the definite article "le" when referring to a specific day, and "les" when referring to days in general or recurring events:

• "Le lundi, je vais à la gym." (On Monday, I go to the gym.)
• "Les lundis, nous avons cours de français." (On Mondays, we have French class.)

Unlike in English, where we use "on" before days (on Monday), French uses the definite article:

• English: "I'll see you on Tuesday."
• French: "Je te verrai le mardi." (Not "sur le mardi")

Common Phrases with Days

• "Quel jour sommes-nous aujourd'hui ?" (What day is it today?)
• "Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi." (Today is Monday.)
• "Quel jour était-ce hier ?" (What day was yesterday?)
• "Quel jour sera-ce demain ?" (What day will tomorrow be?)
• "Lundi matin" (Monday morning)
• "Mardi après-midi" (Tuesday afternoon)
• "Mercredi soir" (Wednesday evening)

Abbreviations

In calendars, schedules, and notes, French days of the week are sometimes abbreviated as follows:

• lun. - lundi
• mar. - mardi
• mer. - mercredi
• jeu. - jeudi
• ven. - vendredi
• sam. - samedi
• dim. - dimanche

The French days of the week have clear Latin origins that connect to Roman gods and planets. French maintains a more direct connection to the original Latin names than English does:

Planetary and Roman God Origins

• lundi: From Latin "dies lunae," meaning "day of the Moon" (Luna)
• mardi: From Latin "dies martis," meaning "day of Mars" (god of war)
• mercredi: From Latin "dies mercurii," meaning "day of Mercury" (messenger god)
• jeudi: From Latin "dies jovis," meaning "day of Jupiter" (king of the gods)
• vendredi: From Latin "dies veneris," meaning "day of Venus" (goddess of love)
• samedi: From Latin "sabbatum," derived from Hebrew "shabbat" (day of rest)
• dimanche: From Latin "dies dominicus," meaning "day of the Lord"

Notice how five of the seven days (lundi through vendredi) directly correspond to Roman planetary gods, while samedi and dimanche reflect Judeo-Christian influence. This pattern is common across Romance languages.

The days of the week in French culture carry certain associations and traditions that contribute to the rhythm of French life:

Business and Social Customs

In France, the business week runs from Monday to Friday, but with some notable differences from other countries:

• The traditional French workday may include a longer lunch break, especially outside major cities.
• In many French towns, businesses might close for a few hours in the afternoon and reopen later, though this practice is diminishing in urban areas.
• The French workweek is legally limited to 35 hours, though many professionals work longer.

Weekend Culture

Samedi (Saturday) and dimanche (Sunday) make up the weekend, with specific cultural associations:

• Le déjeuner du dimanche (Sunday lunch) is often an extended family affair that can last several hours.
• Many shops and businesses remain closed on dimanche, though this is changing in tourist areas.
• In some cities, museums are free on the first dimanche of each month.

Educational Schedule

The French educational system has some unique timing patterns:

• Traditionally, many French schools did not have classes on mercredi (Wednesday) afternoons, allowing time for extracurricular activities.
• Some French schools have a half-day or no classes on samedi, though this varies by region and school level.

Traditional Market Days

In many French towns and villages, specific days of the week are dedicated to markets (marchés):

• These market days can vary by location but are often a central part of the town's weekly rhythm.
• Locals might refer to days by their market association: "C'est jour de marché" (It's market day).

Pattern Recognition

Notice that six of the seven French days (lundi through samedi) end in "-di". Only dimanche breaks this pattern. This "-di" ending comes from the Latin "dies" meaning "day."

Connection to Other Romance Languages

If you know Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese, you'll notice similarities in the days of the week. For example:

• French: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi
• Spanish: lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes
• Italian: lunedì, martedì, mercoledì, giovedì, venerdì

French Days of the Week Song

A popular children's song for learning the French days of the week follows a simple melody:

Lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi,
Vendredi, samedi, dimanche.
Voilà les sept jours de la semaine,
Voilà les sept jours de la semaine.

(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
These are the seven days of the week,
These are the seven days of the week.)