Bonjour! If you’re keen to learn how to say calendar days in French, you’ve come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the formal and informal ways of expressing calendar days, provide regional variations when necessary, and offer various tips and examples along the way. So, let’s dive into the fascinating world of French calendar days!
Table of Contents
Formal Expressions
When it comes to formal situations or written communication, the following expressions are commonly used to denote calendar days:
- le lundi – (on) Monday
- le mardi – (on) Tuesday
- le mercredi – (on) Wednesday
- le jeudi – (on) Thursday
- le vendredi – (on) Friday
- le samedi – (on) Saturday
- le dimanche – (on) Sunday
Informal Ways
When speaking casually with friends, family, or in everyday situations, French speakers often use the following expressions to talk about calendar days:
- lundi – Monday
- mardi – Tuesday
- mercredi – Wednesday
- jeudi – Thursday
- vendredi – Friday
- samedi – Saturday
- dimanche – Sunday
As you can see, the informal way of expressing calendar days is simply omitting the definite article “le” (meaning “the” in English) before the day of the week. Remember to use these informal expressions only in casual contexts.
Tips and Examples
Let’s now explore some handy tips and examples to help you master the French calendar days:
1. Watch out for Gender Agreements
Just like many other words in French, calendar days are gendered. However, the gender agreement only applies to the days preceded by the definite article “le.” For example:
Le lundi je vais au cinéma. (On Monday, I go to the cinema.)
La semaine dernière, le mercredi était férié. (Last week, Wednesday was a public holiday.)
Note that in the second example, “la semaine dernière” (last week) is feminine, but the gender agreement is with “le mercredi,” as the definite article “le” relates to the day and not the week.
2. Days of the Week as Adverbs
In French, the days of the week can also function as adverbs. In this case, they are used without the “le” article. Take a look at these examples:
J’irai lundi chez le coiffeur. (I will go to the hairdresser on Monday.)
Il part en vacances vendredi. (He leaves for vacation on Friday.)
3. Use Prepositions with Days
When referring to an action happening “on” a specific day, you need to include a preposition:
Je te verrai mardi prochain. (I will see you next Tuesday.)
Nous nous réunissons le jeudi pour discuter du projet. (We will meet on Thursday to discuss the project.)
4. Regional Variations
French is spoken in various countries, and as a result, regional variations exist. While the formal expressions mentioned earlier are universally understood, there are some regional differences in casual speech. Here’s an example:
In France: Je travaille mardi. (I work on Tuesday.)
In Quebec: Je travaille le mardi. (I work on Tuesday.)
In Quebec, it is common to include the definite article “le” even in informal situations, while in France, it is omitted. Be sure to adapt to the local usage when communicating in a specific region.
Well done! You have now learned how to say calendar days in French. Remember to use the formal expressions for official or written communication, and the informal ways for casual conversations. Pay attention to gender agreements, utilize days as adverbs, and remember to include prepositions when necessary. Enjoy practicing your newfound knowledge of French calendar days!
