If you’ve ever wondered why the days of the week in Spanish have such curious names, this MaestroMío article is for you. Here, you’ll not only discover what the days are called, but also how to use them correctly in everyday sentences and what stories lie behind each one. Let’s go through the week with a bit of history, grammar, and some practical (and funny) examples that make learning Spanish much more enjoyable.
The Names of the Days and Their Origin
Let’s start with the basics. The days of the week in Spanish are:
- Lunes
- Martes
- Miércoles
- Jueves
- Viernes
- Sábado
- Domingo
They probably sound familiar — and that’s because most of them have very ancient roots. The tradition comes from Latin and, in turn, from Roman astronomy and mythology. Each day was dedicated to a celestial body and a god:
- Lunes comes from Luna, the Moon.
- Martes is dedicated to Mars, the god of war.
- Miércoles to Mercury, the god of commerce and messenger of the gods.
- Jueves to Jupiter, the king of the gods.
- Viernes to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.
- Sábado comes from the Hebrew Shabat, the day of rest.
- Domingo comes from the Latin Dies Dominicus, “the Lord’s Day,” which replaced the old Solis, the day of the Sun.
How to Use the Days of the Week in Spanish
Now that we know their names, let’s see how to use them correctly. Here comes a bit of grammar — but don’t worry, it’s easier than it looks.
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In Spanish, the days of the week are usually preceded by the definite article “el” when talking about something habitual:
- El lunes tengo clase de guitarra.
(On Mondays I have guitar class.) - Los martes voy al gimnasio.
(On Tuesdays I go to the gym.)
Important note: when referring to a specific day, we also use “el”:
- ¿Nos vemos el miércoles?
(Shall we meet on Wednesday?) - La reunión será el viernes a las 10.
(The meeting will be on Friday at 10.)
And when talking about something repetitive, we use the plural “los”:
- Los sábados me gusta dormir hasta tarde.
(On Saturdays I like to sleep in.)
Prepositions
The days of the week are sometimes used with the preposition “en” only in certain expressions:
- En lunes — used in some regions of Spain, though the most common form is simply el lunes.
- En martes, ni te cases ni te embarques.
(On a Tuesday, neither marry nor embark — a traditional saying.)
To indicate repetition, we use “cada” (“each”):
- Cada jueves ceno con mis amigos.
(Every Thursday I have dinner with my friends.) - Cada domingo vamos al parque.
(Every Sunday we go to the park.)
Other Grammatical Details
- In Spanish, the days of the week are not capitalized (unlike in English). Always write: lunes, martes, miércoles…
- When referring to several consecutive days, you can use conjunctions:
De lunes a viernes trabajo de 9 a 18.
(From Monday to Friday I work from 9 to 6.)
Practical Tips
- Remember the order: lunes is the first working day (although in some countries the week starts on Sunday).
- Use “el” for a specific day and “los” to talk about habits.
- Take advantage of the roots of the names to learn them in a fun way. For example: if you love Mars (Marte), you’ll love martes!
The days of the week in Spanish reflect history, culture, and the structure of the language. Learning and using them correctly allows you to communicate clearly and better understand the cultural roots of the Spanish-speaking world.
