The days of the week in Spanish are an essential part of basic vocabulary. Unlike English, Spanish days of the week are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. Here’s a helpful guide to using and understanding the days of the week in Spanish.
The Seven Days
- lunes – Monday
- martes – Tuesday
- miércoles – Wednesday
- jueves – Thursday
- viernes – Friday
- sábado – Saturday
- domingo – Sunday
Usage and Grammar
- Definite Article: When referring to a specific day, use the definite article “el” before the day:
- el lunes (on Monday)
- el martes (on Tuesday)
- Pluralization: To say “on Mondays” or “every Monday,” use the plural form with “los”:
- los lunes (on Mondays)
- los martes (on Tuesdays)
- No Capitalization: Unlike in English, the days of the week are not capitalized in Spanish unless they start a sentence.
- Abbreviations: Common abbreviations are:
- lun. (lunes)
- mar. (martes)
- mié. (miércoles)
- jue. (jueves)
- vie. (viernes)
- sáb. (sábado)
- dom. (domingo)
- Origin: Most Spanish day names come from Latin and reference Roman gods or celestial bodies:
- martes (Mars), miércoles (Mercury), jueves (Jupiter), viernes (Venus)
- Weekend: The weekend is “el fin de semana,” comprising sábado and domingo.
Remember, practice and consistent use will help you master the days of the week in Spanish!