Days of the Week in 20 Languages (English + Native Language Guide)

Learning the days of the week is one of the easiest ways to start speaking a new language. These are everyday words you’ll use at school, work, while traveling, making appointments, or simply talking about your plans.
Since they appear in calendars and daily conversations, they’re among the first words most language learners memorize.
In this guide, you’ll discover the Days of the Week in 20 popular languages, including English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Urdu, Indonesian, German, Japanese, Nigerian Pidgin, Marathi, Telugu, Turkish, Tamil, Vietnamese, and Korean. You’ll also find easy pronunciations and helpful tips to make remembering them much easier.
English Days of the Week Table
| English | Native Script | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Monday | MUN-day | Moon’s Day |
| Tuesday | Tuesday | TYOOZ-day | Tiw’s Day |
| Wednesday | Wednesday | WENZ-day | Woden’s Day |
| Thursday | Thursday | THURZ-day | Thor’s Day |
| Friday | Friday | FRY-day | Frigg’s Day |
| Saturday | Saturday | SAT-er-day | Saturn’s Day |
| Sunday | Sunday | SUN-day | Sun’s Day |
Days of the Week in Mandarin Chinese (English + Chinese)
The days of the week in Mandarin Chinese are among the easiest to learn because they follow a simple numbering system. Monday through Saturday are numbered from one to six, while Sunday is named after the sun. This logical pattern makes memorizing the weekdays quick and straightforward.
| English | Chinese (Simplified) | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 星期一 | Xīngqī Yī | Week Day One |
| Tuesday | 星期二 | Xīngqī Èr | Week Day Two |
| Wednesday | 星期三 | Xīngqī Sān | Week Day Three |
| Thursday | 星期四 | Xīngqī Sì | Week Day Four |
| Friday | 星期五 | Xīngqī Wǔ | Week Day Five |
| Saturday | 星期六 | Xīngqī Liù | Week Day Six |
| Sunday | 星期日 / 星期天 | Xīngqī Rì / Xīngqī Tiān | Week Day Sun / Week Day Heaven |
Learning Tip
If you already know the Chinese numbers one (一) through six (六), you’ve already learned most of the weekday names. Simply add 星期 (Xīngqī) before each number to form Monday through Saturday. For Sunday, remember that both 星期日 and 星期天 are common, interchangeable, and understood throughout the Chinese-speaking world.
Days of the Week in Hindi (English + Hindi)
The Days of the Week in Hindi are based on the names of planets and celestial bodies, a tradition shared with many other languages. These names are commonly used in schools, calendars, newspapers, and everyday conversations across India. Once you recognize the pattern, they’re easy to remember.
| English | Hindi (Devanagari) | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | सोमवार | Somvār | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | मंगलवार | Mangalvār | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | बुधवार | Budhvār | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | गुरुवार / बृहस्पतिवार | Guruvār / Brihaspativār | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | शुक्रवार | Shukravār | Venus Day |
| Saturday | शनिवार | Shanivār | Saturn Day |
| Sunday | रविवार | Ravivār | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
A quick way to remember the Hindi weekdays is to notice that they all end with “वार” (vār), which means “day.” Focus on learning the first part of each word—such as सोम (Som), मंगल (Mangal), or बुध (Budh)—and the full weekday names will become much easier to recall.
Days of the Week in Spanish (English + Spanish)
The Days of the Week in Spanish are easy to learn because many of them share Latin roots with English and other European languages. You’ll see these weekday names on calendars, school schedules, work timetables, and in everyday conversations across the Spanish-speaking world. Learning them is a great way to build a strong foundation in Spanish.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Lunes | LOO-nes | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | Martes | MAR-tes | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | Miércoles | mee-AIR-co-les | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | Jueves | HWEH-ves | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | Viernes | vee-AIR-nes | Venus Day |
| Saturday | Sábado | SAH-ba-do | Sabbath Day |
| Sunday | Domingo | doh-MEEN-go | Lord’s Day |
Learning Tip
A simple way to remember the Spanish weekdays is to learn Lunes through Viernes as the workweek and Sábado and Domingo as the weekend. Try checking your phone or wall calendar in Spanish and saying the current day aloud every morning. Daily repetition is one of the fastest ways to make these words stick.
Days of the Week in French (English + French)
The Days of the Week in French are used in everyday conversations, calendars, schools, and workplaces across French-speaking countries. Learning these seven words is a simple way to build your French vocabulary.
| English | French | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Lundi | lun-DEE | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | Mardi | mar-DEE | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | Mercredi | mehr-cruh-DEE | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | Jeudi | zhuh-DEE | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | Vendredi | vahn-druh-DEE | Venus Day |
| Saturday | Samedi | sam-DEE | Sabbath Day |
| Sunday | Dimanche | dee-MAHNSH | Lord’s Day |
Learning Tip
Most French weekday names end with a similar “-di” sound. Practice saying them in order every day to remember them more easily.
Days of the Week in Arabic (English + Arabic)
The Days of the Week in Arabic follow a simple numbering system for most of the week, making them easier to learn than many beginners expect. These names are widely used across Arabic-speaking countries in everyday conversations and calendars.
| English | Arabic | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | الاثنين | Al-Ithnayn | The Second Day |
| Tuesday | الثلاثاء | Ath-Thulāthāʼ | The Third Day |
| Wednesday | الأربعاء | Al-Arbiʿāʼ | The Fourth Day |
| Thursday | الخميس | Al-Khamīs | The Fifth Day |
| Friday | الجمعة | Al-Jumuʿah | Day of Gathering |
| Saturday | السبت | As-Sabt | Sabbath |
| Sunday | الأحد | Al-Aḥad | The First Day |
Learning Tip
Notice that Sunday through Thursday follow a numbering pattern in Arabic. Learning the Arabic numbers from one to five will make it much easier to remember these weekday names. Friday and Saturday have unique names and are commonly associated with the weekend in many Arabic-speaking countries.
Days of the Week in Bengali (English + Bengali)
The Days of the Week in Bengali are based on the names of planets and celestial bodies, similar to Hindi and several other South Asian languages. These weekday names are commonly used in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
| English | Bengali | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | সোমবার | Shombar | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | মঙ্গলবার | Mongolbar | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | বুধবার | Budhbar | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | বৃহস্পতিবার | Brihospotibar | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | শুক্রবার | Shukrobar | Venus Day |
| Saturday | শনিবার | Shonibar | Saturn Day |
| Sunday | রবিবার | Robibar | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Most Bengali weekday names end with “বার” (bar), which means “day.” Focus on learning the first part of each word, and the complete weekday names will become much easier to remember.
Days of the Week in Portuguese (English + Portuguese)
The Days of the Week in Portuguese have a unique numbering system from Monday to Friday, while Saturday and Sunday have distinct names. These weekday names are used in Portugal, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking countries.
| English | Portuguese | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Segunda-feira | seh-GOON-dah FAY-rah | Second Fair/Day |
| Tuesday | Terça-feira | TAIR-sah FAY-rah | Third Fair/Day |
| Wednesday | Quarta-feira | KWAR-tah FAY-rah | Fourth Fair/Day |
| Thursday | Quinta-feira | KEEN-tah FAY-rah | Fifth Fair/Day |
| Friday | Sexta-feira | SESH-tah FAY-rah | Sixth Fair/Day |
| Saturday | Sábado | SAH-bah-do | Sabbath |
| Sunday | Domingo | doh-MING-goo | Lord’s Day |
Learning Tip
Remember that Monday through Friday follow a simple numbering pattern with -feira at the end. Once you learn Segunda through Sexta, you’ll know the entire workweek.
Days of the Week in Russian (English + Russian)
The Days of the Week in Russian are closely connected to numbers and historical traditions. Several weekday names have meanings that make them easier to remember once you understand their origins.
| English | Russian | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | понедельник | po-ne-DYEL-nik | After the Week |
| Tuesday | вторник | FTOR-nik | Second Day |
| Wednesday | среда | sree-DA | Middle Day |
| Thursday | четверг | chit-VYERK | Fourth Day |
| Friday | пятница | PYAT-ni-tsa | Fifth Day |
| Saturday | суббота | soo-BO-ta | Sabbath |
| Sunday | воскресенье | vas-kree-SEN-ye | Resurrection Day |
Learning Tip
Notice the number pattern in Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Learning the Russian numbers alongside the weekdays can help you remember them much faster.
Days of the Week in Urdu (English + Urdu)
The Days of the Week in Urdu are based on the names of planets and celestial bodies, much like Hindi and Bengali. These names are commonly used in Pakistan and are seen in calendars, schools, newspapers, and everyday conversations.
| English | Urdu | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | پیر | Peer | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | منگل | Mangal | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | بدھ | Budh | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | جمعرات | Jumerat | Day Before Friday |
| Friday | جمعہ | Jumu’ah | Day of Congregation |
| Saturday | ہفتہ | Hafta | Sabbath |
| Sunday | اتوار | Itvaar | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
A simple way to remember the Urdu weekdays is to practice them in order every day. Since several names are similar to Hindi, learning both languages together can make them easier to remember.
Days of the Week in Indonesian (English + Indonesian)
The Days of the Week in Indonesian are simple to learn and are used throughout Indonesia in schools, workplaces, and daily conversations. Most of the names have historical roots in Arabic and Portuguese influences.
| English | Indonesian | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Senin | seh-NEEN | Monday |
| Tuesday | Selasa | seh-LAH-sah | Tuesday |
| Wednesday | Rabu | RAH-boo | Wednesday |
| Thursday | Kamis | KAH-mees | Thursday |
| Friday | Jumat | JOO-maht | Friday |
| Saturday | Sabtu | SAHB-too | Sabbath |
| Sunday | Minggu | MING-goo | Week / Sunday |
Learning Tip
Practice saying the days in order every morning. Sabtu (Saturday) and Minggu (Sunday) are especially easy to remember because they’re commonly associated with the weekend.
Days of the Week in German (English + German)
The Days of the Week in German share many similarities with English because both languages have Germanic roots. Several weekday names are named after the same Norse gods and celestial bodies.
| English | German | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Montag | MOHN-tahg | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | Dienstag | DEENS-tag | Tiw’s Day |
| Wednesday | Mittwoch | MITT-vokh | Midweek |
| Thursday | Donnerstag | DON-ers-tag | Thor’s Day |
| Friday | Freitag | FRY-tag | Frigg’s Day |
| Saturday | Samstag / Sonnabend | ZAHMS-tag / ZON-ah-bent | Sabbath / Sunday Eve |
| Sunday | Sonntag | ZON-tag | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Many German weekday names resemble their English equivalents. Montag, Freitag, and Sonntag are especially easy to remember because they closely match Monday, Friday, and Sunday.
Days of the Week in Japanese (English + Japanese)
The Days of the Week in Japanese are named after the sun, moon, and the five classical elements. They are used in calendars, school schedules, and everyday conversations throughout Japan.
| English | Japanese | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 月曜日 | Getsuyōbi | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | 火曜日 | Kayōbi | Fire Day |
| Wednesday | 水曜日 | Suiyōbi | Water Day |
| Thursday | 木曜日 | Mokuyōbi | Wood Day |
| Friday | 金曜日 | Kinyōbi | Gold (Metal) Day |
| Saturday | 土曜日 | Doyōbi | Earth Day |
| Sunday | 日曜日 | Nichiyōbi | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Notice that every weekday ends with 曜日 (yōbi), meaning “day of the week.” Learn the first character for each day, and the full names become much easier to remember.
Days of the Week in Nigerian Pidgin (English + Nigerian Pidgin)
The Days of the Week in Nigerian Pidgin are easy to learn because they are borrowed directly from English with simple pronunciation changes. They’re commonly used in everyday conversations across Nigeria.
| English | Nigerian Pidgin | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Monde | MON-day | Monday |
| Tuesday | Tiusde | TYOOZ-day | Tuesday |
| Wednesday | Wenesde | WENZ-day | Wednesday |
| Thursday | Tosde | THURZ-day | Thursday |
| Friday | Fraide | FRY-day | Friday |
| Saturday | Satade | SAT-ah-day | Saturday |
| Sunday | Sonde | SUN-day | Sunday |
Learning Tip
If you already know the English weekdays, you’ll learn the Nigerian Pidgin names quickly. Focus on how they’re pronounced in everyday speech rather than their spelling, and practice saying them aloud in order.
Days of the Week in Marathi (English + Marathi)
The Days of the Week in Marathi are based on the names of planets and celestial bodies, similar to Hindi and other Indian languages. They are commonly used in Maharashtra for daily conversations, calendars, and school schedules.
| English | Marathi | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | सोमवार | Somvār | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | मंगळवार | Mangalvār | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | बुधवार | Budhvār | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | गुरुवार | Guruvār | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | शुक्रवार | Shukravār | Venus Day |
| Saturday | शनिवार | Shanivār | Saturn Day |
| Sunday | रविवार | Ravivār | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Most Marathi weekday names end with “वार” (vār), meaning “day.” Learning this pattern makes it much easier to remember all seven days.
Days of the Week in Telugu (English + Telugu)
The Days of the Week in Telugu are widely used in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Like many Indian languages, the weekday names are connected to planets and celestial bodies.
| English | Telugu | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | సోమవారం | Sōmavāram | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | మంగళవారం | Maṅgaḷavāram | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | బుధవారం | Budhavāram | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | గురువారం | Guruvāram | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | శుక్రవారం | Shukravāram | Venus Day |
| Saturday | శనివారం | Shanivāram | Saturn Day |
| Sunday | ఆదివారం | Ādivāram | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Nearly every Telugu weekday ends with “వారం” (vāram), meaning “week/day.” Focus on the first part of each word to remember the individual days more easily.
Days of the Week in Turkish (English + Turkish)
The Days of the Week in Turkish are used throughout Türkiye in schools, workplaces, and everyday conversations. Several names have Arabic and Persian origins, while others come from Turkish.
| English | Turkish | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Pazartesi | pah-zar-TES-ee | After Market Day |
| Tuesday | Salı | sah-LUH | Tuesday |
| Wednesday | Çarşamba | char-SHAM-ba | Wednesday |
| Thursday | Perşembe | per-SHEM-be | Thursday |
| Friday | Cuma | joo-MAH | Friday (Congregation Day) |
| Saturday | Cumartesi | joo-mar-TES-ee | After Friday |
| Sunday | Pazar | pah-ZAR | Market Day |
Learning Tip
Notice that Pazar (Sunday) and Pazartesi (Monday) are closely related. Learning these two together makes the rest of the Turkish weekdays easier to remember.
Days of the Week in Tamil (English + Tamil)
The Days of the Week in Tamil are based on the names of planets and are commonly used in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and Tamil-speaking communities around the world.
| English | Tamil | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | திங்கட்கிழமை | Thingaṭkizhamai | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை | Sevvāykkizhamai | Mars Day |
| Wednesday | புதன்கிழமை | Pudhankizhamai | Mercury Day |
| Thursday | வியாழக்கிழமை | Viyāzhakkizhamai | Jupiter Day |
| Friday | வெள்ளிக்கிழமை | Veḷḷikkizhamai | Venus Day |
| Saturday | சனிக்கிழமை | Sanikkizhamai | Saturn Day |
| Sunday | ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை | Nyāyiṟṟukkizhamai | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Most Tamil weekday names end with “கிழமை” (kizhamai), meaning “day.” Once you recognize this ending, it’s easier to focus on the unique first part of each weekday.
Days of the Week in Vietnamese (English + Vietnamese)
The Days of the Week in Vietnamese follow a simple numbering system. Monday through Saturday are numbered, while Sunday has its own unique name, making the weekdays easy to learn.
| English | Vietnamese | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Thứ Hai | Thuh Hi | Second Day |
| Tuesday | Thứ Ba | Thuh Bah | Third Day |
| Wednesday | Thứ Tư | Thuh Tuh | Fourth Day |
| Thursday | Thứ Năm | Thuh Nahm | Fifth Day |
| Friday | Thứ Sáu | Thuh Sow | Sixth Day |
| Saturday | Thứ Bảy | Thuh Buy | Seventh Day |
| Sunday | Chủ Nhật | Choo Nyut | Lord’s Day |
Learning Tip
Monday through Saturday follow a clear numbering pattern with “Thứ” followed by a number. Once you learn the numbers, remembering the weekdays becomes much easier.
Days of the Week in Korean (English + Korean)
The Days of the Week in Korean are named after the sun, moon, and the five classical elements. These weekday names are used in South Korea on calendars, school timetables, and in everyday conversations.
| English | Korean | Pronunciation | Literal Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 월요일 | Woryoil | Moon Day |
| Tuesday | 화요일 | Hwayoil | Fire Day |
| Wednesday | 수요일 | Suyoil | Water Day |
| Thursday | 목요일 | Mogyoil | Wood Day |
| Friday | 금요일 | Geumyoil | Gold (Metal) Day |
| Saturday | 토요일 | Toyoil | Earth Day |
| Sunday | 일요일 | Iryoil | Sun Day |
Learning Tip
Every Korean weekday ends with “요일” (yoil), meaning “day of the week.” Learn the first syllable of each day—such as 월 (Moon) or 화 (Fire)—to remember the full weekday names more easily.
Final Thoughts
Learning the Days of the Week is a simple yet valuable first step in learning any language. These seven words appear in daily conversations, calendars, school schedules, work meetings, and travel plans, making them useful from the very beginning.
Whether you’re studying English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Urdu, Indonesian, German, Japanese, Nigerian Pidgin, Marathi, Telugu, Turkish, Tamil, Vietnamese, or Korean, knowing the weekdays will help you communicate with greater confidence and understand everyday situations more easily.
Practice the weekday names a few minutes each day, say them aloud, and use them whenever you check a calendar or make plans. With regular practice, you’ll quickly remember all seven days and build a strong foundation for learning even more vocabulary.
Also check: Parts of Speech







