Monday in Japanese: 月曜日
Pronounced geh-tsoo-YOH-bee — literally “moon day”.
Monday in Japanese at a Glance
| Kanji | 月曜日 |
|---|---|
| Hiragana | げつようび |
| Romaji | getsuyōbi |
| Pronunciation | geh-tsoo-YOH-bee (ge·tsu·yō·bi) |
| Literal meaning | moon day |
| Abbreviation | 月 |
The first kanji 月 (getsu) means “moon”. 月曜日 is literally “moon day” — exactly the same idea as English Monday (“Moon's day”) and Latin dies Lunae.
How to Pronounce 月曜日
geh-tsoo-YOH-bee — syllable by syllable: ge·tsu·yō·bi.
- The ō is a long vowel — hold the “oh” sound roughly twice as long as a normal o.
- Japanese gives each syllable nearly equal stress, so avoid punching one syllable the way English does.
- 曜日 (yōbi) means “day of the week” and is shared by all seven days — only the first kanji changes.
Example Sentences with 月曜日
How to Say “Happy Monday” in Japanese
Japanese speakers don't traditionally greet each other with “Happy Monday”, but the phrase above is natural and widely understood (literally “have a good Monday”). On Fridays you'll more often hear 良い週末を (yoi shūmatsu o) — “have a great weekend”.
All 7 Days of the Week in Japanese
Japanese names its days after the sun, the moon and the five classical elements (fire, water, wood, metal and earth), which also correspond to the five visible planets. The system mirrors the old Greco-Roman planetary week, so each Japanese day lines up with the same celestial body as its English or Latin counterpart.
| English | Japanese | Romaji | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 月曜日 | getsuyōbi | geh-tsoo-YOH-bee | |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 | kayōbi | kah-YOH-bee | |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 | suiyōbi | soo-ee-YOH-bee | |
| Thursday | 木曜日 | mokuyōbi | moh-koo-YOH-bee | |
| Friday | 金曜日 | kin'yōbi | keen-YOH-bee | |
| Saturday | 土曜日 | doyōbi | doh-YOH-bee | |
| Sunday | 日曜日 | nichiyōbi | nee-chee-YOH-bee |
See the full guide: Days of the Week in Japanese.
Cultural Notes: Monday in Japanese-Speaking Countries
Monday starts the Japanese work and school week. It's also the day most museums in Japan close, so plan sightseeing accordingly. Note that printed Japanese calendars usually show Sunday, not Monday, in the first column.
Did You Know?
The first kanji 月 (getsu) means “moon”. 月曜日 is literally “moon day” — exactly the same idea as English Monday (“Moon's day”) and Latin dies Lunae. Curious how English got its name for Monday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use 月曜日 in a Sentence
To say “on Monday”, add the particle に (ni): 月曜日に (getsuyōbi ni). In casual speech and writing, the final 日 (bi) is often dropped, giving 月曜 (getsuyō). On calendars, timetables and phone apps, each day is shortened to its first kanji in parentheses — you'll see Monday written as (月).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Monday in Japanese?
Monday in Japanese is 月曜日 (getsuyōbi), pronounced “geh-tsoo-YOH-bee”. It literally means “moon day”.
What does 月曜日 mean in English?
The first kanji 月 (getsu) means “moon”. 月曜日 is literally “moon day” — exactly the same idea as English Monday (“Moon's day”) and Latin dies Lunae.
How do you pronounce 月曜日?
It's pronounced “geh-tsoo-YOH-bee” — broken into syllables: ge·tsu·yō·bi. Use the audio button on this page to hear a recording.
Is 月曜日 capitalized in Japanese?
Japanese has no capital letters, so 月曜日 is always written the same way. When writing the word in romaji (Latin letters), day names are normally lowercase — getsuyōbi — though you may see them capitalized at the start of a sentence.
How do you say “Happy Monday” in Japanese?
良い月曜日を！ (Yoi getsuyōbi o!). Japanese speakers don't traditionally greet each other with “Happy Monday”, but the phrase above is natural and widely understood (literally “have a good Monday”). On Fridays you'll more often hear 良い週末を (yoi shūmatsu o) — “have a great weekend”.
How is Monday abbreviated in Japanese?
Monday (月曜日) is abbreviated 月 on Japanese calendars and schedules.
What is Monday in Japanese hiragana?
In hiragana, Monday is written げつようび (getsuyōbi). The kanji form 月曜日 is what you'll normally see in print, but the hiragana spelling shows exactly how it's pronounced.
What is the kanji for Monday in Japanese?
The kanji form is 月曜日. The first character, 月, means “moon”, and 曜日 (yōbi) means “day of the week”. On calendars it's abbreviated to just (月).
How do you write Monday in romaji?
The standard romaji spelling is getsuyōbi. Without the long-vowel mark you'll also see getsuyoubi — both represent the same pronunciation.
How do you say “today is Monday” in Japanese?
今日は月曜日です (Kyō wa getsuyōbi desu) — literally “as for today, it is Monday”.
Monday in Other Languages
Other Days in Japanese
Wondering what day it is in Japan right now? Check our live What day is it in Japan? page.