月
getsu[t͡sɨ̥kʲi]
Monday in Japanese is referred to as 月 (getsu). If unsure, use 月. Wiktionary also lists 月曜 (getsuyō).
Meaning: Monday (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 月 | getsu | [t͡sɨ̥kʲi] (narrow) [ɡe̞t͡sɨ] (narrow) |
| 月曜 | getsuyō | [ɡe̞t͡sɨjo̞ː] (narrow) |
In written contexts such as schedules or calendars, a shortened form is often used to denote the day.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 月 literally means 'moon'.
Which one should you use?
月 can stand alone in shorthand contexts like schedules. For a standard, full noun used in complete sentences, the term 月曜日 (getsuyōbi) is the standard way to say 'Monday' in full sentences.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 曜日 (yōbi) to 月 (getsu) creates the full, standard noun for 'Monday'.
How do you pronounce it?
getsu
Did you know?
- The character 月 can be read as gachi in certain historical contexts. In the Edo period, this referred to a low-ranking prostitute whose services cost one monme of silver.
- The Japanese word for 'moon' is also used to mean 'month'. This is why the same character 月 appears in both the word for 'Monday' and the names of the twelve months.
- The word 月 can be read as gatsu when counting months, but it changes to getsu when referring to the day of the week.
Examples in context
- 土日月の午前１０時半から午後４時まで開館。Open from 10:30am to 4pm on Sat, Sun, and Mon.This sentence is useful for seeing how 月 is used in a schedule to denote Monday.Tatoeba #74691 by fcbond, translation #329028 by fcbond
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their class schedule.
- 陽葵 Himari月はテストがありますか？getsu wa tesuto ga arimasu ka?Is there a test on Monday?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいえ、ありませんよ。iie, arimasen yo.No, there isn't.
- 陽葵 Himariよかった。安心しました。yokatta. anshin shimashita.That's a relief. I'm glad.
- 大翔 Hiroto大翔さんも安心してください。daisho-san mo anshin shite kudasai.You can relax too, Daisho.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mon” translations and entries 月, 月曜, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 月, 月曜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
