Days of the Week in Italian

The days of the week in Italian (i giorni della settimana) have Latin origins and clearly reflect the Roman planetary tradition. Like other Romance languages, Italian day names are derived from Latin terms that honor Roman gods and celestial bodies.

Italian weekday names have a distinctive feature: five days (lunedì through venerdì) end with an accented -ì, while the weekend days (sabato and domenica) follow a different pattern. This structure makes Italian days relatively easy to learn and remember once you understand the pattern.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about the Italian days of the week, from pronunciation and etymology to cultural context and practical usage.

In Italian, days of the week are not capitalized unless they appear at the beginning of a sentence. This follows the general pattern of Romance languages and differs from English capitalization rules.

Examples of Correct Capitalization

• Correct: "Il lunedì vado in palestra." (On Monday I go to the gym.)
• Correct: "Lunedì è il primo giorno della settimana." (Monday is the first day of the week.)
• Incorrect: "Il Lunedì vado in palestra." (Incorrect capitalization)

Are Days of the Week Capitalized in Italian?

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

Italian days of the week have clear Latin origins that connect to Roman gods and planets:

Planetary and Roman God Origins

• lunedì: From Latin "Lunae dies," meaning "day of Luna" (Moon goddess)
• martedì: From Latin "Martis dies," meaning "day of Mars" (god of war)
• mercoledì: From Latin "Mercurii dies," meaning "day of Mercury" (messenger god)
• giovedì: From Latin "Jovis dies," meaning "day of Jupiter" (king of the gods)
• venerdì: From Latin "Veneris dies," meaning "day of Venus" (goddess of love)
• sabato: From Latin "sabbatum," derived from Hebrew "shabbat" (day of rest)
• domenica: From Latin "dominica dies," meaning "day of the Lord"

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

Days with Articles

In Italian, days of the week are typically used with the definite article "il" when referring to a specific instance of a day:

• "Il lunedì vado al cinema." (On Monday I go to the cinema.)
• "Il martedì studio italiano." (On Tuesday I study Italian.)

When expressing something that happens every week on a particular day, you can use the days without the article:

• "Lunedì vado sempre in palestra." (On Mondays I always go to the gym.)
• Alternative: "Ogni lunedì vado in palestra." (Every Monday I go to the gym.)

Common Phrases with Days

• "Che giorno è oggi?" (What day is today?)
• "Oggi è venerdì." (Today is Friday.)
• "Che giorno era ieri?" (What day was yesterday?)
• "Che giorno sarà domani?" (What day will tomorrow be?)
• "lunedì mattina" (Monday morning)
• "martedì pomeriggio" (Tuesday afternoon)
• "mercoledì sera" (Wednesday evening)

Abbreviations

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

• lun - lunedì
• mar - martedì
• mer - mercoledì
• gio - giovedì
• ven - venerdì
• sab - sabato
• dom - domenica

Italian pronunciation is relatively consistent and phonetic once you know the basic rules. Here are some key points to help you pronounce the days of the week correctly:

Stress Patterns

• For lunedì, martedì, mercoledì, giovedì, and venerdì, the stress falls on the final syllable, as indicated by the accent mark.
• For sabato, the stress falls on the first syllable (SA-ba-to).
• For domenica, the stress falls on the second syllable (do-ME-ni-ca).

Vowel Sounds

Italian vowels are pronounced clearly and consistently:

• a as in "father" (sabato)
• e as in "let" (venerdì)
• i as in "machine" (lunedì)
• o as in "more" (domenica)
• u as in "rule" (lunedì)

Consonant Sounds

Most consonants are similar to English, with a few key differences:

• The c in "mercoledì" and "domenica" is pronounced like "k"
• The g in "giovedì" is pronounced like the "g" in "general"
• The r is slightly rolled
• Double consonants like the "tt" in "sabato" are pronounced longer than single consonants

In Italian culture, certain days of the week carry distinctive rhythms and traditions that reflect the Italian lifestyle:

Business and Social Customs

• Riposo: Many Italian businesses still observe the traditional afternoon break, particularly in smaller towns and southern regions. This means shops might close from approximately 1:00-4:00 PM, especially on weekdays.
• Weekend Culture: The Italian weekend typically begins Friday evening. "Venerdì sera" (Friday evening) is often considered the start of weekend social activities.

Regional Market Days

In many Italian towns and cities, specific days of the week are designated as market days (giorni di mercato):

• These vary by location, but knowing the local market day is important for residents.
• Markets usually operate in the morning until early afternoon and offer fresh produce, clothing, household items, and more.

Religious Traditions

• Venerdì (Friday): Traditionally a day of abstinence from meat in Catholic tradition, though this practice has diminished.
• Domenica (Sunday): Still observed as a day of rest and family gathering in many Italian households. The Sunday lunch (il pranzo della domenica) is an important family tradition that can last several hours.

Pattern Recognition

Notice that the weekdays in Italian (Monday through Friday) all end with the accented "-dì" suffix. This consistent pattern makes them easier to recognize as days of the week. The weekend days (sabato and domenica) break this pattern and have different endings.

Connection to Other Romance Languages

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

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

Planetary Connections

Remember the planetary connections to help with memorization:

• lunedì: Luna = Moon
• martedì: Marte = Mars
• mercoledì: Mercurio = Mercury
• giovedì: Giove = Jupiter
• venerdì: Venere = Venus

Italian Days of the Week Song

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

Lunedì, martedì, mercoledì, giovedì,
Venerdì, sabato, domenica.
Sono i sette giorni della settimana,
Sono i sette giorni che passan per me.

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

1. Capitalizing Days Incorrectly

Wrong: "Vado al cinema il Lunedì."
Right: "Vado al cinema il lunedì."
Why: Italian doesn't capitalize days of the week unless they begin a sentence. This is one of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make.

2. Omitting or Misusing the Accent on "-dì"

Wrong: "lunedi" (without accent)
Right: "lunedì" (with accent on final i)
Why: The accent mark is essential. It indicates where the stress falls and distinguishes the word from other potential meanings. Without it, the word is misspelled.

3. Using "su" Instead of "il" or "di"

Wrong: "Ci vediamo su venerdì."
Right: "Ci vediamo venerdì." OR "Ci vediamo di venerdì."
Why: Italian doesn't use "su" (on) with days. Use "il" for specific days or "di" for habitual occurrences, or omit the preposition entirely.

4. Confusing "il" (specific) vs. No Article (habitual)

Specific: "Il lunedì vado dal dottore." (This coming Monday I'm going to the doctor.)
Habitual: "Lunedì vado sempre in palestra." (On Mondays I always go to the gym.)
Why: The presence or absence of "il" changes the meaning. With "il" = a specific instance; without = every week.

5. Mispronouncing the Stressed Syllable

Wrong: Pronouncing "LU-ne-dì" with stress on first syllable
Right: Pronouncing "lu-ne-DÌ" with stress on final syllable
Why: The accent mark shows where stress falls. All weekdays ending in "-dì" have stress on the final syllable.

6. Treating Days as Feminine Gender

Wrong: "La lunedì" or "Una bella domenica" (mixing genders)
Right: "Il lunedì" (all days except domenica are masculine) and "Una bella domenica" (domenica is feminine)
Why: Six days are masculine (lunedì through sabato), but domenica is feminine. This affects article and adjective agreement.

Making Appointments and Social Plans

• "Le va bene martedì?" - Does Tuesday work for you? (formal)
• "Sei libero giovedì?" - Are you free Thursday? (informal)
• "Ci vediamo venerdì alle 15." - See you Friday at 3 PM.
• "Possiamo spostare a mercoledì?" - Can we move it to Wednesday?
• "L'appuntamento è lunedì alle 10." - The appointment is Monday at 10 AM.
• "Quando ti viene comodo? Lunedì o martedì?" - When is convenient for you? Monday or Tuesday?

Talking About Your Weekly Schedule

• "Lavoro dal lunedì al venerdì." - I work Monday through Friday.
• "Il mercoledì non lavoro." - I don't work on Wednesdays.
• "Il mio orario è dalle 9 alle 18, dal lunedì al giovedì." - My hours are 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Thursday.
• "Di venerdì lavoro da casa." - On Fridays I work from home.
• "L'ufficio è chiuso la domenica." - The office is closed on Sundays.
• "Lunedì sono in ferie." - I'm on vacation Monday.

Travel and Tourism Expressions

• "Il museo è chiuso il lunedì." - The museum is closed on Mondays.
• "C'è un mercato il sabato?" - Is there a market on Saturday?
• "I negozi chiudono presto la domenica." - Shops close early on Sundays.
• "Parto martedì e torno giovedì." - I'm leaving Tuesday and coming back Thursday.
• "Il volo parte mercoledì alle 10:30." - The flight leaves Wednesday at 10:30 AM.
• "Arriviamo domenica sera." - We arrive Sunday evening.
• "Il ristorante è aperto il giovedì?" - Is the restaurant open on Thursdays?

Business Email Expressions

• "Sarò assente da lunedì a mercoledì." - I'll be out from Monday to Wednesday.
• "La ricontatterò giovedì." - I'll contact you again Thursday.
• "La riunione è prevista per martedì prossimo." - The meeting is scheduled for next Tuesday.
• "Potrebbe confermare entro venerdì?" - Could you confirm by Friday?
• "Le invierò il rapporto entro martedì." - I'll send you the report by Tuesday.
• "Da lunedì sarò di nuovo disponibile." - I'll be available again starting Monday.

Past and Future Time References

• "lunedì scorso" - last Monday
• "lunedì prossimo" - next Monday
• "tra due lunedì" - in two Mondays / two Mondays from now
• "tre giorni fa" - three days ago
• "entro giovedì" - by Thursday
• "prima di venerdì" - before Friday
• "dopo mercoledì" - after Wednesday
• "dopodomani" - the day after tomorrow
• "l'altro ieri" - the day before yesterday

Idiomatic Expressions and Sayings

• "Dal lunedì alla domenica" - Seven days a week, all week long
• "Non tutti i giorni è domenica" - Not every day is Sunday (life isn't always easy)
• "Di lunedì si riparte" - On Monday we start again
• "Venerdì sera" - Friday evening (marks the beginning of the weekend)
• "Fare il ponte" - To take a long weekend (when a holiday falls on Thursday or Tuesday)
• "Lunedì nero" - Black Monday (typically referring to stock market crashes)
• "Come un lunedì mattina" - Like a Monday morning (feeling tired or unmotivated)

Regional and Cultural Variations

• Northern Italy: Generally follows more structured business hours; less common to have extended lunch breaks (riposo).
• Central and Southern Italy: The traditional "riposo" (afternoon break) is still common, with businesses closing from roughly 1-4 PM, especially in smaller towns.
• Sicily and Sardinia: Strong traditions around Sunday family meals; many businesses remain closed on Sundays year-round.
• Tourist Areas: May have different schedules, often staying open on Sundays and during riposo hours to serve tourists.

Professional and Academic Contexts

• "La settimana lavorativa" - The work week
• "Un giorno festivo" - A public holiday
• "Un giorno feriale" - A weekday (working day)
• "Un giorno infrasettimanale" - A mid-week day
• "Lavorare part-time" - To work part-time
• "L'orario di apertura" - Opening hours
• "Orario continuato" - Continuous hours (no lunch break closure)
• "Fine settimana" or "weekend" - Weekend (both terms used)

Time Expressions with Days

Italian has specific ways to express times of day with weekdays:

• "lunedì mattina" - Monday morning
• "martedì pomeriggio" - Tuesday afternoon
• "mercoledì sera" - Wednesday evening
• "giovedì notte" - Thursday night
• "venerdì all'alba" - Friday at dawn
• "sabato a mezzogiorno" - Saturday at noon
• "domenica a mezzanotte" - Sunday at midnight

Downloadable Study Materials

Related Topics to Explore

• Days of the Week in Spanish - Compare close Romance language relatives
• Days of the Week in French - See similarities in Romance language patterns
• Days of the Week in Portuguese - Another Romance language comparison
• Days of the Week in Latin - Explore the root language of Italian
• Etymology of Weekday Names - Deep dive into Roman gods and planetary origins
• Test Your Knowledge - Interactive quiz covering multiple languages

Study Tips for Long-term Retention

1. Practice Accent Marks: Write the days repeatedly, focusing on placing the accent correctly on the "-dì" ending. This builds visual memory.
2. Listen and Repeat: Use the audio buttons on this page daily. Italian pronunciation is rhythmic—try to match the stress patterns exactly.
3. Use Them in Context: Practice full sentences: "Il lunedì vado al lavoro." Don't just memorize isolated words.
4. Learn the Pattern: Recognize that Monday-Friday all end in "-dì" while Saturday and Sunday don't. This makes memorization easier.
5. Connect to Planets: Understanding that "lunedì" relates to Luna (moon) and "venerdì" to Venere (Venus) creates memorable mental hooks.
6. Watch Italian Content: Italian TV, movies, and YouTube videos frequently use days of the week. Listen for them and note the pronunciation.
7. Practice with Native Speakers: Join an Italian conversation group or language exchange. Discussing your schedule is practical, real-world usage.
8. Master the Gender: Remember that all days are masculine except domenica (feminine). Practice: "il bel lunedì" vs. "la bella domenica."
9. Use Visual Associations: Create mental images linking each day to its planetary origin (moon for lunedì, war for martedì, etc.).
10. Spaced Repetition: Review every few days, then weekly, then monthly. This scientifically-proven method ensures long-term retention.

Next Steps in Your Italian Learning Journey

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

• I mesi dell'anno - The months of the year
• Le stagioni - The seasons
• L'ora - Telling time in Italian
• Le date - Expressing dates in Italian
• Espressioni di tempo - Time expressions (ieri, oggi, domani, dopodomani, etc.)
• Le festività italiane - Italian holidays and celebrations