Learning how to say the days of the week in French is an essential skill for any beginner French learner. Whether you want to use the formal or informal way, understanding the days of the week will help you in everyday conversations and scheduling appointments. In this guide, we will walk you through the different ways of saying the days of the week in French, provide helpful tips, and give you examples for each day. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Formal and Informal Ways
In French, there are both formal and informal ways of saying the days of the week. The formal way is usually used in more professional or polite settings, while the informal way is often used among friends or in casual situations. Let’s take a look at both:
Formal:
- Lundi – Monday
- Mardi – Tuesday
- Mercredi – Wednesday
- Jeudi – Thursday
- Vendredi – Friday
- Samedi – Saturday
- Dimanche – Sunday
These are the formal forms of the weekdays in French. They are used in more formal situations, such as when making appointments or talking to someone in a professional setting.
Informal:
- Lundi – Lund
- Mardi – Mar
- Mercredi – Mer
- Jeudi – Jeu
- Vendredi – Ven
- Samedi – Sam
- Dimanche – Dim
The informal forms of the weekdays are shorter versions of their formal counterparts. They are commonly used in everyday conversations and are more relaxed. These forms are often used among friends or in informal settings.
Tips for Pronunciation
Pronouncing the weekdays correctly in French can be challenging for beginners. Here are some tips to help you get it right:
Tip 1: Pay attention to the ‘e’ at the end of each day. It is usually not pronounced in French, except for ‘mercredi’ where it is pronounced as ‘ay’.
For example:
– Lundi: pronounced as ‘lon-dee’
– Mardi: pronounced as ‘mar-dee’
– Mercredi: pronounced as ‘merk-ray-dee’
– Jeudi: pronounced as ‘ju-dee’
– Vendredi: pronounced as ‘von-druh-dee’
– Samedi: pronounced as ‘sam-dee’
– Dimanche: pronounced as ‘dee-monsh’
Tip 2: In French, the stress usually falls on the last syllable of a word, except for ‘lundi’ where the stress falls on the first syllable.
For example:
– Lundi: stress on the first syllable ‘lon’
– Mardi: stress on the last syllable ‘dee’
– Mercredi: stress on the last syllable ‘dee’
– Jeudi: stress on the last syllable ‘dee’
– Vendredi: stress on the last syllable ‘dee’
– Samedi: stress on the last syllable ‘dee’
– Dimanche: stress on the last syllable ‘sh’
Examples:
Now, let’s see some examples of how to use the days of the week in French:
1. Hier, c’était samedi et nous avons fait une belle promenade au parc.
Translation: Yesterday was Saturday, and we had a nice walk in the park.
2. Jeudi prochain, j’ai un rendez-vous chez le dentiste.
Translation: Next Thursday, I have an appointment at the dentist.
3. Les magasins sont fermés le dimanche.
Translation: The shops are closed on Sunday.
Conclusion
Learning the days of the week in French is a fundamental step in your journey to mastering the language. Whether you use the formal or informal way, being able to express the days of the week correctly will greatly improve your communication skills. Remember the pronunciation tips and practice using the examples provided. With time and practice, you will become confident in talking about the days of the week in French!
