The French days of the week are:
- Lundi (Monday)
- Mardi (Tuesday)
- Mercredi (Wednesday)
- Jeudi (Thursday)
- Vendredi (Friday)
- Samedi (Saturday)
- Dimanche (Sunday)
They all derive from Latin, reflecting the names of classical planets and gods, except for the weekend, which comes from religious and practical origins.
Mercredi is Wednesday in French.
Friday is 'Vendredi' in French.
The weekend in French is 'Samedi' and 'Dimanche'.
Usage
In French, the week typically starts on Monday (Lundi), not Sunday. Days of the week are not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence.
You can say "aujourd'hui" for today, "demain" for tomorrow, and "hier" for yesterday.
Example sentences:
- Aujourd'hui, c'est mercredi. (Today is Wednesday.)
- Demain, ce sera jeudi. (Tomorrow will be Thursday.)
The French week starts on Monday (Lundi).
No, they are not capitalized unless at the beginning of a sentence.
'aujourd'hui' means today, 'demain' means tomorrow, and 'hier' means yesterday.
Origins
French days of the week come from Latin and correspond to celestial bodies and gods:
| French | Latin | Root Meaning | Modern Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lundi | Lunae | Day of the Moon | Monday |
| Mardi | Martis | Day of Mars (God of War) | Tuesday |
| Mercredi | Mercurii | Day of Mercury | Wednesday |
| Jeudi | Iovis | Day of Jupiter (God of Thunder) | Thursday |
| Vendredi | Veneris | Day of Venus | Friday |
| Samedi | Saturni | Day of Saturn | Saturday |
| Dimanche | Dies Dominica | Day of the Lord (Christian) | Sunday |
'Jeudi' corresponds to Jupiter.
All days except Dimanche come from Roman gods and planets.
'Dimanche' means 'Day of the Lord' and has Christian origins, unlike the other days.
Conclusion
The French days of the week reflect a rich tapestry of history, blending Roman mythology with Christian tradition. Knowing them not only helps with language but also gives insight into cultural perspectives on time.
- The French week starts on Monday (Lundi), and days are not capitalized in normal use.
- Most day names come from Roman gods and celestial bodies, except Dimanche (Sunday), which is Christian in origin.
- Common related words include aujourd’hui (today), demain (tomorrow), and hier (yesterday).