Discover the complete guide to the French days of the week! Learn how to pronounce and spell each day, along with useful tips and cultural insights. Enhance your French language skills today!
Learning a new language is a fun and exciting experience, but it can also be a bit overwhelming at times. One aspect of French that may be confusing for English speakers is the way that the days of the week are named.
In this article, we will provide a complete guide to the French days of the week, including their pronunciation and proper usage.
Monday: lundi
Let’s start with Monday, which is known as “lundi” in French. The word “lundi” is derived from the Old French “lunesdi,” which means “day of the Moon.”
In French, the days of the week are named after celestial bodies and deities, with Monday being associated with the Moon. To pronounce “lundi,” begin by saying the “l” sound as you would in English.
Then, say the “u” sound as if you are saying “oo” without rounding your lips. Finally, say the “n” sound as you normally would and finish with the “d” sound. So, “lundi” is pronounced, “loon-dee.”
Tuesday: mardi
Next up is Tuesday, which is called “mardi” in French. Like “lundi,” “mardi” is also derived from Old French, with “martesdi” meaning “day of Mars.” In French, Tuesday is associated with the planet Mars.
To pronounce “mardi,” begin by saying the “m” sound as you normally would. Then, say the “a” sound as if you are saying “ah” without opening your mouth too wide. Finally, say the “r” sound as you normally would and finish with the “d” sound. So, “mardi” is pronounced, “mar-dee.”
Wednesday: mercredi
Wednesday is “mercredi” in the French language. This word is derived from the Old French “mercuresdi,” which means “day of Mercury.” In French, Wednesday is associated with the planet Mercury.
To pronounce “mercredi,” begin by saying the “m” sound as you normally would. Then, say the “e” sound as if you are saying “uh” without opening your mouth too wide.
Next, say the “r” sound as you normally would, followed by the “k” sound as you would in English. Finally, say the “r” sound again and finish with the “d” sound. So, “mercredi” is pronounced, “mehr-kruh-dee.”
Thursday: jeudi
Thursday is “jeudi” in French. This word is derived from the Old French “juesdi,” which means “day of Jupiter.”
In French, Thursday is associated with the planet Jupiter. To pronounce “jeudi,” begin by saying the “j” sound as you normally would. Then, say the “eu” sound as if you are saying “uh” while rounding your lips. Finally, say the “d” sound as you normally would. So, “jeudi” is pronounced, “juh-dee.”
Friday: vendredi
Vendredi is the French word for Friday. This word comes from the Old French “vendresdi,” which translates as “day of Venus.” In French, Friday is linked to the planet Venus.
Spanish days of the week: Rules
It’s vital to keep in mind that the French days of the week are not capitalized unless they are the first word in a sentence. Je travaille le lundi, for instance, is correct, but “Je travaille le Lundi” is incorrect.
The words for the days of the week often do not begin with an article in French (un, une, le, la). For instance, “I go to the movies on Tuesday” (Je vais au cinéma le mardi) is proper, but “I go to the movies on Tuesday night” (Je vais au cinéma le mardi soir) is incorrect. You would say, “I’m going to the movies on Tuesday night.”
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that the term “in” does not follow the days of the week in French, so “I’m going to Paris on Monday in August” would be translated as “Je vais à Paris lundi en août” rather than “Je vais à Paris lundi dans août.”
The usage of the days of the week in conjunction with a specific date as opposed to a broad time period is more typical in French, it should be noted. In contrast to “Je vais au cinéma tous les mardis,” the phrase “Je vais au cinéma le mardi” is more frequently used (I go to the cinema every Tuesday).
Finally, it is worth noting that the French days of the week are not interchangeable with the English days of the week. For example, “Je vais au cinéma le Thursday” is not correct in French. You must use the correct French word for the day of the week, such as “Jeudi.”
French days of the week in the context
One common way to use the French days of the week is to talk about your weekly schedule or routine. For example:
- Je travaille du lundi au vendredi. (I work from Monday to Friday.)
- Je vais à la gym le lundi, mercredi et vendredi. (I go to the gym on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.)
- Je donne des cours de français le mardi et le jeudi. (I teach French classes on Tuesday and Thursday.)
You can also use the French days of the week to talk about specific events or activities that are happening on a certain day. For example:
- Mon anniversaire est le lundi. (My birthday is on Monday.)
- Nous avons une réunion importante le mercredi. (We have an important meeting on Wednesday.)
- Le concert commence à 20h00 le vendredi. (The concert starts at 8:00 PM on Friday.)
Another way to use the French days of the week is to talk about how long something has been going on or how long it will continue. For example:
- Je suis en vacances depuis le lundi. (I have been on vacation since Monday.)
- Nous avons un projet à rendre d’ici le mercredi. (We have a project due by Wednesday.)
- Je reste à Paris jusqu’au jeudi. (I am staying in Paris until Thursday.)
Finally, you can use the French days of the week to talk about past events or to make plans for the future. For example:
- J’ai vu le film le mardi dernier. (I saw the movie last Tuesday.)
- Je vais au cinéma le mardi prochain. (I am going to the cinema next Tuesday.)
The French days of the week are a significant part of the language and are utilized in a number of settings. Utilizing the days of the week in French will get easier and more natural with time and exposure.
