Days of the Week in Spanish

The days of the week in Spanish (los días de la semana) originate from Latin and reflect the Roman planetary tradition. Unlike English, Spanish weekday names are not capitalized and are typically preceded by the definite article "el" (for Monday through Friday) when speaking about a specific day.

Spanish days of the week mostly follow the pattern of Romance languages, with clear connections to the Roman planetary gods. For instance, "lunes" derives from Luna (Moon), "martes" from Mars, and so on. Understanding these connections can help you memorize the Spanish weekday names more easily, especially if you know other Romance languages like French or Italian.

Spanish-speaking countries universally recognize these day names, although usage patterns may vary slightly between Spain and Latin American countries. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about the days of the week in Spanish, from proper pronunciation to cultural context and practical usage.

One key difference between English and Spanish is capitalization. In Spanish, the days of the week are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. This rule applies consistently throughout all Spanish-speaking countries.

Examples of Correct Capitalization

• Correct: "El lunes tengo una cita." (On Monday I have an appointment.)
• Correct: "Lunes es el primer día de la semana." (Monday is the first day of the week.)
• Incorrect: "El Lunes tengo una cita." (Incorrect capitalization)

Are Days of the Week Capitalized in Spanish?

No, unlike in English where days of the week are always capitalized as proper nouns, Spanish days of the week are considered common nouns and are not capitalized in most contexts. This follows the general Spanish convention where only proper names, titles, and the first word of sentences are capitalized.

Using Definite Articles (el, los)

In Spanish, days of the week are typically used with the definite article "el" (the) when referring to a specific day, and "los" when referring to days in general or recurring events:

• "El lunes voy al médico." (On Monday I'm going to the doctor.)
• "Los lunes tengo clase de español." (On Mondays I have Spanish class.)

Unlike in English, where we use "on" before days (on Monday), Spanish doesn't need a preposition when using "el" or "los" with days of the week:

• English: "I'll see you on Tuesday."
• Spanish: "Te veré el martes." (Not "en el martes")

Common Phrases with Days

• "¿Qué día es hoy?" (What day is today?)
• "Hoy es lunes." (Today is Monday.)
• "¿Qué día fue ayer?" (What day was yesterday?)
• "¿Qué día será mañana?" (What day will tomorrow be?)
• "El lunes por la mañana" (Monday morning)
• "El martes por la tarde" (Tuesday afternoon/evening)
• "El miércoles por la noche" (Wednesday night)

Abbreviations

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

• lun. - lunes
• mar. - martes
• mié. - miércoles
• jue. - jueves
• vie. - viernes
• sáb. - sábado
• dom. - domingo

The Spanish days of the week have interesting origins that connect to Roman gods and planets, similar to many other European languages. Understanding these etymological roots can help you remember the days more easily:

Planetary and Roman God Origins

• lunes: From Latin "dies lunae," meaning "day of the Moon" (Luna)
• martes: From Latin "dies martis," meaning "day of Mars" (god of war)
• miércoles: From Latin "dies mercurii," meaning "day of Mercury" (messenger god)
• jueves: From Latin "dies jovis," meaning "day of Jupiter" (king of the gods)
• viernes: From Latin "dies veneris," meaning "day of Venus" (goddess of love)
• sábado: From Latin "sabbatum," derived from Hebrew "shabbat" (day of rest)
• domingo: From Latin "dies dominicus," meaning "day of the Lord"

Notice how five of the seven days (lunes through viernes) directly correspond to Roman planetary gods, while sábado and domingo reflect Judeo-Christian influence, a pattern common across Romance languages.

The days of the week in Spanish-speaking cultures carry certain associations and traditions that differ somewhat from English-speaking contexts:

Business and Social Customs

In many Spanish-speaking countries, the business week runs from Monday to Friday, but with some notable differences in daily rhythms:

• The traditional Spanish workday may include a longer midday break ("siesta" time), especially in Spain, though this practice is less common in major cities and among younger generations.
• In Spain and parts of Latin America, weekday evenings tend to start later than in North America or Northern Europe, with dinner commonly happening at 9-10 PM.

Weekend Culture

Sábado (Saturday) and domingo (Sunday) make up the weekend, with Saturday night being the primary social evening and Sunday traditionally reserved for family gatherings:

• Sunday lunch ("la comida") is often an extended family affair that can last several hours.
• Many businesses remain closed on Sundays, especially in more traditional or smaller communities.

Weekday-Specific Traditions

• martes 13 (Tuesday the 13th) is considered unlucky in Spanish-speaking countries, equivalent to Friday the 13th in English-speaking cultures.
• jueves (Thursday) evening is often called "juernes" (a blend of jueves + viernes) in Spain, as it's become a popular night for going out, especially among university students.
• viernes (Friday) is celebrated as the end of the workweek with the phrase "¡Por fin es viernes!" (Finally it's Friday!) or the acronym "PFEV."

Pattern Recognition

Notice that five of the seven Spanish days (lunes through viernes) end in "-es". Only sábado and domingo break this pattern. This can help you quickly identify weekdays versus weekend days.

Connection to Other Romance Languages

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

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

Spanish Days of the Week Song

A popular children's song for learning the Spanish days of the week follows a simple melody that's easy to remember:

Lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves,
Viernes, sábado y domingo también.
Son siete días a la semana,
Cinco en la escuela y dos en casa.

(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday too.
These are seven days of the week,
Five at school and two at home.)