Days of the week in English

Understanding the days of the week in English is a fundamental aspect of the language. Whether you’re planning business meetings or social events, having a clear understanding of the days of the week will help you communicate effectively.

Let’s consider interesting information for each day:

1. Sunday: This is traditionally viewed as the first day of the week, despite many calendars marking it as the last. Sunday is often associated with leisure and rest as it’s typically a day off in most western nations.

2. Monday: This day is generally accepted as the start of the working week. Monday gets its name from the Old English “Monandæg,” which means “Moon’s day”.

3. Tuesday: This is the second day of the working week. The name traces back to Old English as “Tiwesdæg,” which means “Tiw’s day,” Tiw being a Germanic god of war.

4. Wednesday: Named after the Germanic god Woden, Wednesday is the middle of the average working week. In Old English, it is “Wodnesdæg” which translates roughly to “Woden’s day”.

5. Thursday: This day’s name originated from Thor, the Norse god of thunder. “Thunresdæg” in Old English, which means “Thor’s day.”

6. Friday: Being the last day of the working week, Friday is often a day of celebration in anticipation of the weekend. It’s derived from “Frīgedæg” in Old English, which translates to “Freya’s day,” Freya being the goddess of love in Norse mythology.

7. Saturday: This is typically the second day of rest in a week and is the only day of the week named after a Roman god – Saturn. The Old English term is “Sæturnesdæg”.

Using “On” With Days of the Week

1. When referring to specific days, we use the preposition “on“.

   • Example: I’ll meet you on Monday.
   • Example: The event will take place on Friday.

2. “On” can also be used when referring to weekends or weekday(s) in general.

   • Example: I enjoy relaxing on weekends.
   • Example: I work on weekdays.

3. When mentioning parts of the specific day, use “on” and the corresponding time.

   • Example: Let’s have dinner on Tuesday evening.
   • Example: He departed on Sunday morning.

Avoiding “On” With Days of the Week:

1. When you use “every” before a day of the week, “on” should not be used.

   • Example: I have a dance class every Wednesday. (Not: every on Wednesday).

2. When using “last”, “next”, “this” before a day, no “on” is required.

   • Example: He will arrive next Friday. (Not: on next Friday).
   • Example: She left last Tuesday. (Not: on last Tuesday).
   • Example: We are planning a picnic this Sunday. (Not: on this Sunday).

3. When using “days of the week” in a sentence, “on” should not be used.

   • Example: Sundays are usually busy for me. (Not: On Sundays are usually busy for me).

The days of the week are all 7 days from Monday to Sunday.
But weekdays are only the 5 days from Monday to Friday.
And the weekend is Saturday and Sunday.

Examples:

• What day is it?
• What day is it today?

Mastering the names and order of the days of the week in English is a crucial step in your language learning journey. The days have rich historical backgrounds, with most named after Norse, Roman, and Germanic gods. As you study these terms, try to use them in your everyday life to increase your fluency.

Try and practice using these days of the week in sentences every day. Plan your week in English, talk about what day it is today, discuss what you did yesterday, or what your plans are for tomorrow. This direct practice approach will reinforce their usage in your active vocabulary. Remember, learning languages require patience, dedication, and practice.