Sunday in Italian: domenica
Pronounced doh-MEH-nee-kah — literally “the Lord's day”.
Sunday in Italian at a Glance
| Italian word | domenica |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | doh-MEH-nee-kah (do·me·ni·ca) |
| Literal meaning | the Lord's day |
| Abbreviation | dom. |
From Latin dies dominica, “the Lord's day”, adopted with Christianity. It's the only feminine day name in Italian — la domenica — and the only one not ending in -dì or -o.
How to Pronounce domenica
doh-MEH-nee-kah — syllable by syllable: do·me·ni·ca.
- The accent on -dì days is written and mandatory: the stress falls on that final ì.
- Italian vowels are pure and crisp — no gliding as in English.
- Double consonants (as in mercoledì's single ones vs. settimana's tt) are held longer — listen for the difference.
Example Sentences with domenica
How to Say “Happy Sunday” in Italian
“Buona domenica!” is warm, natural Italian — you'll see it in morning texts and all over social media, often expanded to “Buon domenica a tutti!” (Happy Sunday, everyone!).
All 7 Days of the Week in Italian
Italian preserves the Roman planetary week beautifully: lunedì through venerdì are the days of the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus, each ending in -dì (from Latin dies, “day”). The weekend turned Christian: sabato from the Sabbath, domenica from “the Lord's day”. The week starts on Monday.
| English | Italian | Pronunciation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | lunedì | loo-neh-DEE | |
| Tuesday | martedì | mar-teh-DEE | |
| Wednesday | mercoledì | mehr-koh-leh-DEE | |
| Thursday | giovedì | joh-veh-DEE | |
| Friday | venerdì | veh-nehr-DEE | |
| Saturday | sabato | SAH-bah-toh | |
| Sunday | domenica | doh-MEH-nee-kah |
See the full guide: Days of the Week in Italian.
Cultural Notes: Sunday in Italian-Speaking Countries
Domenica is sacred twice over in Italy: il pranzo della domenica (the epic Sunday family lunch) and Serie A football. Remember the article: la domenica, the week's one feminine day.
Did You Know?
From Latin dies dominica, “the Lord's day”, adopted with Christianity. It's the only feminine day name in Italian — la domenica — and the only one not ending in -dì or -o. Curious how English got its name for Sunday? See our guide to the origins of the days of the week.
How to Use domenica in a Sentence
For one specific day, use no preposition: Ci vediamo domenica = See you (on) Sunday. Adding the article makes it habitual: la domenica = every Sunday. Six days are masculine; only domenica is feminine (la domenica).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say Sunday in Italian?
Sunday in Italian is domenica, pronounced “doh-MEH-nee-kah”. It literally means “the Lord's day”.
What does domenica mean in English?
From Latin dies dominica, “the Lord's day”, adopted with Christianity. It's the only feminine day name in Italian — la domenica — and the only one not ending in -dì or -o.
How do you pronounce domenica?
It's pronounced “doh-MEH-nee-kah” — broken into syllables: do·me·ni·ca. Use the audio button on this page to hear a recording.
How do you say “Happy Sunday” in Italian?
Buona domenica!. “Buona domenica!” is warm, natural Italian — you'll see it in morning texts and all over social media, often expanded to “Buon domenica a tutti!” (Happy Sunday, everyone!).
How is Sunday abbreviated in Italian?
Sunday (domenica) is abbreviated dom. on Italian calendars and schedules.
Is domenica capitalized in Italian?
No — Italian weekday names are lowercase: domenica, never Domenica (except at the start of a sentence).
What gender is domenica?
Domenica is the only feminine day in Italian: la domenica. All other days take il.
How do you say “today is Sunday” in Italian?
Oggi è domenica.