Learn the Days of the Week in French

Bonjour à tous! Today, we’re diving into an essential topic for anyone learning French: the days of the week. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, knowing how to say and use the days of the week will help you discuss your schedule, make plans, and talk about your weekly routines. Let’s get started!

The Days of the Week in French

The French week, just like in English, is made up of seven days and begins on lundi (Monday) and ends on dimanche (Sunday). Here they are:

• lundi – Monday
• mardi – Tuesday
• mercredi – Wednesday
• jeudi – Thursday
• vendredi – Friday
• samedi – Saturday
• dimanche – Sunday

Fun Fact: The Origins of the Days of the Week

The names of the days in French have their origins in ancient mythology and astrology, much like in English:

• lundi (Monday) comes from the word for moon, “lune.”
• mardi (Tuesday) is associated with Mars, the god of war.
• mercredi (Wednesday) comes from Mercury, the messenger of the gods.
• jeudi (Thursday) refers to Jupiter, the king of the gods.
• vendredi (Friday) comes from Venus, the goddess of love.
• samedi (Saturday) is connected to Saturn.
• dimanche (Sunday) comes from “dominicus” in Latin, meaning “the day of the Lord.”

How to Pronounce the Days of the Week

Pronunciation is key when learning any new language. Here’s a simple guide to help you pronounce the days of the week in French:

• lundi – [lun-dee]
• mardi – [mar-dee]
• mercredi – [mehr-cruh-dee]
• jeudi – [zhuh-dee]
• vendredi – [von-druh-dee]
• samedi – [sam-dee]
• dimanche – [dee-monsh]

To help with pronunciation, try repeating the words aloud while looking at their spelling. This will reinforce the connection between how they sound and how they’re written.

The below video will help you pronounce the days of the week and includes some easy sentences for beginners.

Using the Days of the Week in French

Once familiar with the pronunciation, you’ll want to start using the days of the week in sentences. But there’s an important distinction: when to use an article (like “le”) and when not to.

With or Without the Article?

In French, you can use the days of the week either with or without the definite article le. This changes the meaning:

Without the article

This refers to a specific day (punctual).

Lundi, je vais au cinéma. (On Monday, I’m going to the movies.)

Mardi, tu vas à la salle de sport ? (On Tuesday, are you going to the gym?)

Vendredi, je sors avec mes amis. (On Friday, I’m going out with my friends.)

With the article

This refers to a repeated event or habit (recurring).

Le lundi, je fais du yoga. (On Mondays, I do yoga.)

Le mercredi, je prends un cours de français. (On Wednesdays, I take a French class.)

You can also add an -s to the end of the day (written in lowercase) to express that an activity happens every week on that day:

Les vendredis, je travaille à distance. (On Fridays, I work remotely.)

Les dimanches, j’aime aller nager dans la mer. (On Sundays, I like to go swimming in the sea.)

Knowing these differences will allow you to talk about both one-time events and regular activities.

French Expressions with Days of the Week

French has several common expressions involving the days of the week, which will help you in everyday conversations:

À lundi ! – See you on Monday!

Bonne semaine ! – Have a good week!

Bon weekend ! – Have a good weekend!

Bon dimanche ! – Have a good Sunday!

À la semaine prochaine ! – See you next week!

These expressions are simple but can be used often, whether you’re making plans or wishing someone well.

For some advanced examples and useful phrases for intermediate learners, check out the video below.

Conclusion

Learning the days of the week in French is just the beginning. To use them confidently, it’s important to understand how they work with articles and how to express both specific events and recurring habits.

Keep practicing! Start incorporating the days of the week into your conversations, and don’t hesitate to use them in your everyday speech. Bon courage and bonne semaine !