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.)

1. Capitalizing Days When They Shouldn't Be

Wrong: "Je vais à Paris le Lundi."
Right: "Je vais à Paris le lundi."
Why: Unlike English, French doesn't capitalize days of the week unless they start a sentence. This is one of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make.

2. Using "Sur" Instead of Article

Wrong: "Je te vois sur mardi."
Right: "Je te vois le mardi."
Why: French doesn't use a preposition like "on" (sur) with days. Instead, use the definite article "le" or "les."

3. Mixing Up "Le" and "Les" with Days

Wrong: "Les lundi, j'ai une réunion." (when referring to a specific Monday)
Right: "Le lundi, j'ai une réunion." (this coming Monday)
Also Correct: "Les lundis, j'ai une réunion." (every Monday, recurring)
Why: Use "le" for specific single occurrences, "les" for habitual/recurring events.

4. Incorrect Pronunciation of Silent Letters

Wrong: Pronouncing the "s" in "mardis" or the final "d" in "samedi"
Right: Silent final consonants: mar-dee, sam-dee
Why: Most final consonants in French are silent. Only pronounce them when there's a liaison with the following word.

5. Using English Word Order with Time Expressions

Wrong: "Mardi à 3 heures" when you mean "at 3 on Tuesday"
Right: "Le mardi à 15 heures" or "mardi à 15 heures"
Why: The article "le" is often needed, and French uses 24-hour clock format in formal contexts.

6. Forgetting Gender Agreement with Adjectives

Wrong: "Un lundi noir" (trying to say "a black Monday")
Right: "Un lundi difficile" or "une journée difficile"
Why: Days of the week in French are masculine, so adjectives must agree: "un bon lundi" (a good Monday).

Making Appointments and Plans (Formal and Informal)

• "Quel jour vous convient le mieux ?" - What day suits you best? (formal)
• "Tu es libre jeudi ?" - Are you free Thursday? (informal)
• "On se voit vendredi à 14 heures." - See you Friday at 2 PM.
• "Pouvons-nous reporter au mercredi ?" - Can we postpone to Wednesday?
• "Je vous propose mardi prochain." - I suggest next Tuesday. (formal)
• "Rendez-vous lundi matin." - Meeting on Monday morning.

Talking About Your Schedule

• "Je travaille du lundi au vendredi." - I work Monday through Friday.
• "Je suis en congé le mercredi." - I'm off on Wednesday.
• "Mes horaires sont de 9h à 17h, du lundi au jeudi." - My hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Thursday.
• "Je fais du télétravail les vendredis." - I work from home on Fridays.
• "Le bureau est fermé le dimanche." - The office is closed on Sunday.

Travel and Tourism Phrases

• "Le musée est ouvert tous les jours sauf le lundi." - The museum is open every day except Monday.
• "Y a-t-il un marché le samedi ?" - Is there a market on Saturday?
• "Les magasins ferment tôt le dimanche." - Shops close early on Sunday.
• "Je pars mardi et je reviens jeudi." - I'm leaving Tuesday and coming back Thursday.
• "Le vol part le mercredi à 10h30." - The flight leaves Wednesday at 10:30 AM.
• "Nous arrivons dimanche soir." - We arrive Sunday evening.

Business Email Expressions

• "Je serai absent du lundi au mercredi." - I will be away from Monday to Wednesday.
• "Je vous recontacterai jeudi." - I will contact you again Thursday.
• "La réunion est prévue pour mardi prochain." - The meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday.
• "Pourriez-vous confirmer avant vendredi ?" - Could you confirm before Friday?
• "Je vous envoie le rapport d'ici mardi." - I'll send you the report by Tuesday.

Past and Future Time References

• "lundi dernier" or "lundi passé" - last Monday
• "lundi prochain" or "lundi qui vient" - next Monday
• "dans deux lundis" - in two Mondays / two Mondays from now
• "il y a trois jours" - three days ago
• "d'ici jeudi" - by Thursday
• "avant vendredi" - before Friday
• "après mercredi" - after Wednesday

Idiomatic Expressions and Sayings

• "Du lundi au dimanche" - Seven days a week, all week long (24/7)
• "Un lundi noir" - A terrible Monday (often referring to stock market crashes)
• "La semaine des quatre jeudis" - "When pigs fly" (literally "the week with four Thursdays")
• "Faire le pont" - Taking a long weekend when a holiday falls on Thursday or Tuesday
• "Entre chien et loup" - Twilight/dusk (not day-specific but time-related)
• "Remettre à demain" - To procrastinate (to put off until tomorrow)

Regional and Cultural Variations

• France: "Le week-end" typically means Saturday and Sunday, though "faire le pont" can extend it to include Friday or Monday when there's a holiday.
• Quebec/Canada: "La fin de semaine" is preferred over "le week-end" for Saturday and Sunday. Also, some expressions differ: "en semaine" (on weekdays) is commonly used.
• Belgium/Switzerland: Similar to France but with some local expressions. In Switzerland, "déjeuner" can mean breakfast (unlike in France where it means lunch).
• African French: In many Francophone African countries, the market day holds special cultural significance and might be referred to by name rather than day of the week.

Professional and Academic Contexts

• "La semaine de travail" - The work week
• "Un jour férié" - A public holiday
• "Un jour ouvrable" - A working day (Monday-Saturday, excluding holidays)
• "Un jour ouvré" - A business day (typically Monday-Friday)
• "Travailler à temps partiel" - To work part-time
• "Les horaires d'ouverture" - Opening hours

Downloadable Study Materials

Related Topics to Explore

• Days of the Week in Spanish - Compare Romance language patterns
• Days of the Week in Italian - See the similarities with French
• Days of the Week in German - Contrast with Germanic language structure
• Days of the Week in Portuguese - Another close Romance language relative
• Etymology of Weekday Names - Deep dive into planetary and mythological origins
• Test Your Knowledge - Interactive quiz covering multiple languages

Study Tips for Long-term Retention

1. Daily Practice: Use French days in your daily planner or calendar. Change your phone's language settings to French to see the days every day.
2. Spaced Repetition: Review the days every few days at first, then weekly, then monthly. This scientifically-proven method helps move information into long-term memory.
3. Create Associations: Link each French day to something memorable in your life. For example, if you have piano lessons on Tuesday, think "mardi = mon jour de piano."
4. Use Them in Sentences: Don't just memorize isolated words. Practice full sentences: "Le lundi, je vais au travail."
5. Listen to Native Speakers: Use the audio buttons on this page regularly. Try to mimic the exact pronunciation and rhythm.
6. Watch French Content: French TV shows, movies, and YouTube videos frequently mention days of the week. Try to catch them when you hear them.
7. Practice with a Partner: If you have a study partner, quiz each other: "Quel jour sommes-nous ?" "C'est mardi!"
8. Connect to Etymology: Understanding that "mardi" comes from Mars (the god of war) and "vendredi" from Venus (goddess of love) creates memorable mental hooks.

Next Steps in Your French Learning Journey

Once you've mastered the days of the week, consider expanding your time-related vocabulary:

• Les mois de l'année - The months of the year
• Les saisons - The seasons
• L'heure - Telling time in French
• Les dates - Expressing dates (including ordinal numbers)
• Expressions temporelles - Time expressions (hier, aujourd'hui, demain, etc.)