How to pronounce each day of the week in Spanish?
Learning to pronounce the days of the week in Spanish is essential for effective communication. Here's a breakdown of each day with its correct pronunciation:
- Monday (Lunes): Pronounced loo-nays. Named after the moon, just like "Monday" in English.
- Tuesday (Martes): Pronounced mar-tays. This day is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
- Wednesday (Miércoles): Pronounced mee-air-coh-lays. It derives from Mercury, the Roman messenger god.
- Thursday (Jueves): Pronounced hway-vays. Named after Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods.
- Friday (Viernes): Pronounced vee-air-nays. It comes from Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
- Saturday (Sábado): Pronounced sah-bah-doh. This day’s name has roots in the Sabbath, a day of rest.
- Sunday (Domingo): Pronounced doh-meen-goh. Derived from the Latin word Dominicus, meaning "the Lord's Day."
| English |
Spanish |
Pronunciation |
| Monday |
lunes |
loon-es |
| Tuesday |
martes |
mar-tes |
| Wednesday |
miércoles |
mee-air-co-les |
| Thursday |
jueves |
hweh-ves |
| Friday |
viernes |
vee-air-nes |
| Saturday |
sábado |
sah-bah-doh |
| Sunday |
domingo |
do-meen-go |
Spanish Days of the Week Abbreviations
In Spanish, the days of the week can also be abbreviated using more formal abbreviations, typically seen in written formats like calendars and schedules. Here’s how each day is shortened:
| Day |
Abbreviation |
| lunes |
lun. |
| martes |
mart. |
| miércoles |
miérc. |
| jueves |
juev. |
| viernes |
vier. |
| sábado |
sáb. |
| domingo |
dom. |
These abbreviations are commonly used in print and digital calendars, making them useful for quick references.
How to Ask About the Days of the Week
To ask about the days of the week in Spanish, you can use several common questions:
- ¿Qué día es hoy?
- ¿En qué día estamos?
- (What day are we on? / What day is it today?)
- ¿Qué día es mañana?
- ¿Cuándo es la reunión?
- ¿Qué día tienes libre?
How to Answer About the Days of the Week
When responding, you simply state the day of the week. Remember to use the article "el" (the) before the day when specifying a particular day.
- Hoy es lunes.
- Mañana es martes.
- La reunión es el miércoles.
- (The meeting is on Wednesday.)
- Tengo libre el viernes.
- Estamos a domingo.
Examples in Conversations
Let's see how these questions and answers might look in everyday conversations.
Example 1:
- Persona A: ¿Qué día es hoy?
- Persona B: Hoy es jueves.
Example 2:
- Persona A: ¿Cuándo es el concierto?
- Persona B: El concierto es el sábado.
- (The concert is on Saturday.)
Example 3:
- Persona A: ¿En qué día tenemos la clase de yoga?
- (On which day do we have yoga class?)
- Persona B: La clase de yoga es los martes y jueves.
- (Yoga class is on Tuesdays and Thursdays.)
Sentences with lunes (Monday)
El lunes tengo una reunión importante.
(On Monday, I have an important meeting.)
Nos vemos el próximo lunes en el parque.
(We’ll meet next Monday at the park.)
Sentences with martes (Tuesday)
El martes voy al cine con mis amigos.
(On Tuesday, I’m going to the movies with my friends.)
Los martes tengo clase de yoga.
(I have yoga class on Tuesdays.)
Sentences with miércoles (Wednesday)
Mi examen de matemáticas es el miércoles.
(My math exam is on Wednesday.)
El miércoles pasado llovió todo el día.
(Last Wednesday, it rained all day.)
Sentences with jueves (Thursday)
El jueves por la noche, vamos a cenar en un restaurante.
(On Thursday night, we’re going out to dinner.)
Los jueves, hago voluntariado en el hospital.
(On Thursdays, I volunteer at the hospital.)
Sentences with viernes (Friday)
Este viernes es el último día de clases.
(This Friday is the last day of classes.)
Los viernes salgo a correr en la mañana.
(On Fridays, I go for a run in the morning.)
Sentences with sábado (Saturday)
El sábado tenemos una fiesta en la playa.
(On Saturday, we have a beach party.)
Los sábados me gusta dormir hasta tarde.
(On Saturdays, I like to sleep in.)
Sentences with domingo (Sunday)
El domingo voy a visitar a mi familia.
(On Sunday, I’m going to visit my family.)
Los domingos, solemos ir a la iglesia.
(On Sundays, we usually go to church.)
Days of the Week in Spanish: 7 Essential Tips
Now that you know how to say the days of the week in Spanish, it's time to put that knowledge into practice! Whether you're planning activities, talking about routines, or setting appointments, here are seven important things to keep in mind when using the days of the week in Spanish.
1. Forget About "On"
In English, we say things like "on Monday" or "on Saturday nights." In Spanish, however, you don’t use “on.” Instead, you’ll use el or los (the). Here's how it works:
El martes voy a comer con mi abuela. (“On Tuesday, I'm having lunch with my grandma.”)
Los sábados corro por el parque. (“On Saturdays, I run in the park.”)
Just remember—no need for "en" or any extra words!
2. The Week Starts on Monday
Unlike some English-speaking countries where the week begins on Sunday, in Spanish-speaking countries, the week starts with Monday (lunes). This follows the typical work or school week structure.
3. The Midweek "X" Rule
Abbreviations for the days of the week in Spanish come with a twist! While English uses letters like M for Monday and W for Wednesday, in Spanish:
L M X J V S D
Here, X stands for miércoles (Wednesday) to avoid confusion with martes (Tuesday). So, if you see a schedule that says L y X, it means Monday and Wednesday.
4. Days Aren't Usually Capitalized
In Spanish, the days of the week are not capitalized unless they appear at the start of a sentence. For example:
Nos vemos el lunes. (“See you on Monday.”)
However, when writing formal dates, the day can be capitalized:
Lunes, 16 de agosto de 2021 (“Monday, August 16, 2021”)
5. All Days Are Masculine
In Spanish, the days of the week are all masculine. This means you'll always use el, los, un, or algunos when referring to them.
6. Pluralize the Days
When pluralizing the days of the week, follow standard Spanish rules. Days like martes stay the same in plural form, while days like sábado and domingo require an additional -s.
el martes → los martes
el domingo → los domingos
7. Use the Verb "Ser"
When talking about the day of the week in simple sentences, you’ll typically use the verb ser. For present or future tense, use es:
Hoy es miércoles. (“Today is Wednesday.”)
El próximo jueves es mi cumpleaños. (“Next Thursday is my birthday.”)
For past tense, use fue:
Ayer fue martes. (“Yesterday was Tuesday.”)
El martes fue un buen día. (“Tuesday was a good day.”)
With these tips in mind, you're ready to talk about schedules and days of the week like a pro in Spanish!
Spanish Days of the Week: How to Use Them Correctly
In Spanish, unlike English, the days of the week are typically written in lowercase. Most of the days end in -es, and the singular and plural forms are often the same. For instance, lunes means both “Monday” and “Mondays.” To clarify whether you're talking about a specific day or recurring days, you'll need to use the definite articles el or los.
Examples:
Tengo muchas citas el martes, pero nada el miércoles.
(I have many appointments on Tuesday, but nothing on Wednesday.)
Vamos a servicios religiosos los sábados o los domingos.
(We go to religious services on Saturdays or Sundays.)
Monday in Spanish
Monday in Spanish is "lunes". It's the start of the work or school week in many cultures.
Example 1:
El lunes tengo una reunión importante.
(On Monday, I have an important meeting.)
Example 2:
¿Puedes empezar el trabajo el lunes?
(Can you start the job on Monday?)
Example 3:
Los lunes suelo ir al gimnasio por la mañana.
(On Mondays, I usually go to the gym in the morning.)
Tuesday in Spanish
Tuesday is called "martes" in Spanish. It's the second day of the workweek.
Example 1:
El martes hay una conferencia en la universidad.
(On Tuesday, there's a lecture at the university.)
Example 2:
¿Te gustaría cenar juntos este martes?
(Would you like to have dinner together this Tuesday?)
Example 3:
Los martes y jueves tomo clases de baile.
(On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I take dance classes.)
Wednesday in Spanish
Wednesday translates to "miércoles" in Spanish. It's the midpoint of the week.
Example 1:
El miércoles visitaremos el museo de arte.
(On Wednesday, we will visit the art museum.)
Example 2:
Tengo una cita médica el miércoles por la tarde.
(I have a medical appointment on Wednesday afternoon.)
Example 3:
Los miércoles hay descuento en el cine.
(On Wednesdays, there's a discount at the movie theater.)
Thursday in Spanish
Thursday in Spanish is "jueves". It's a day often associated with preparing for the weekend.
Example 1:
El jueves es el último día para entregar el proyecto.
(Thursday is the last day to submit the project.)
Example 2:
¿Quieres venir a mi casa este jueves?
(Do you want to come to my house this Thursday?)
Example 3:
Los jueves solemos jugar al fútbol en el parque.
(On Thursdays, we usually play soccer in the park.)
Friday in Spanish
Friday is "viernes" in Spanish. Many people look forward to this day as the start of the weekend.
Example 1:
El viernes voy a una fiesta de cumpleaños.
(On Friday, I'm going to a birthday party.)
Example 2:
¡Por fin es viernes!
(It's finally Friday!)
Example 3:
¿Tienes planes para el viernes por la noche?
(Do you have plans for Friday night?)
Saturday in Spanish
Saturday translates to "sábado" in Spanish. It's a popular day for relaxation and leisure activities.
Example 1:
El sábado iremos de excursión a las montañas.
(On Saturday, we'll go hiking in the mountains.)
Example 2:
Me encanta dormir hasta tarde los sábados.
(I love sleeping in on Saturdays.)
Example 3:
¿Quieres ir al mercado el sábado por la mañana?
(Do you want to go to the market on Saturday morning?)
Sunday in Spanish
Sunday in Spanish is "domingo". It's often considered a day of rest or time spent with family.
Example 1:
El domingo tenemos un almuerzo familiar.
(On Sunday, we have a family lunch.)
Example 2:
Los domingos me gusta leer y relajarme en casa.
(On Sundays, I like to read and relax at home.)
Example 3:
¿Qué planes tienes para este domingo?
(What plans do you have for this Sunday?)
The days of the week in Spanish are:
lunes - Monday
martes - Tuesday
miércoles - Wednesday
jueves - Thursday
viernes - Friday
sábado - Saturday
domingo - Sunday
la semana - the week
Words Associated with the Days of the Week in Spanish
words and phrases that often go hand in hand with the days of the week, providing a richer vocabulary for learning and conversation in Spanish:
- Yesterday - Ayer
- Today - Hoy
- Tomorrow - Mañana
- The day before yesterday - Anteayer
- The day after tomorrow - Pasado mañana
- Last week - La semana pasada
- This week - Esta semana
- Next week - La semana que viene / La próxima semana
- Weekend - El fin de semana
- Weekday - Día de la semana
- Every day - Todos los días
- Daily - Diariamente
- Weekly - Semanalmente
- On Mondays - Los lunes
- On Tuesdays - Los martes
- On Wednesdays - Los miércoles
- On Thursdays - Los jueves
- On Fridays - Los viernes
- On Saturdays - Los sábados
- On Sundays - Los domingos
- Day off - Día libre
- Holiday - Día festivo / Feriado
- Workday - Día laborable
- The beginning of the week - El comienzo de la semana
- The end of the week - El final de la semana
- Midweek - A mitad de semana
- Business day - Día hábil
- Daylight - Luz del día
- Noon - Mediodía
- Midnight - Medianoche
Days of the Week Quiz
Question 1: What is the Spanish word for "Monday"?
A) Jueves
B) Lunes
C) Miércoles
D) Sábado
Question 2: What is the Spanish word for "Tuesday"?
A) Viernes
B) Martes
C) Domingo
D) Lunes
Question 3: What is the Spanish word for "Wednesday"?
A) Jueves
B) Domingo
C) Miércoles
D) Viernes
Question 4: What is the Spanish word for "Thursday"?
A) Martes
B) Jueves
C) Sábado
D) Domingo
Question 5: What is the Spanish word for "Friday"?
A) Lunes
B) Viernes
C) Sábado
D) Miércoles
Question 6: What is the Spanish word for "Saturday"?
A) Viernes
B) Jueves
C) Sábado
D) Domingo
Question 7: What is the Spanish word for "Sunday"?
A) Lunes
B) Viernes
C) Sábado
D) Domingo
