diēs Saturnī
feminine, masculine
Saturday in Latin is expressed as diēs Saturnī or sabbatum. Wiktionary also lists sabbata.
Meaning: day of the week (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| diēs Saturnī | feminine, masculine | |
| sabbatum | [ˈsab.ba.tũː] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈsab.ba.tum] (narrow) |
neuter |
| sabbata | neuter, plural |
In Latin, the term you choose depends on whether you are referring to the day of the week named after the planet or god Saturn or the religious Sabbath.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase diēs Saturnī is a genitive construction meaning day of Saturn.
Which one should you use?
diēs Saturnī refers to the day named after the god Saturn, which is common in a Classical or Pagan context. In contrast, sabbatum is used specifically in a religious context to refer to the Sabbath.
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter noun sabbatum forms its plural as sabbata.
Did you know?
- During the Middle Ages, the word sabbatum began to be used by folklore and inquisitors to describe the 'Witches' Sabbath', a mythical midnight gathering of witches.
- The word sabbatum is derived from the Ancient Greek σάββατον, which in turn comes from the Biblical Hebrew שַׁבָּת.
Examples in context
- Diēs Saturnī mihi placet.I like Saturday.
Example conversation
Lucius and Claudia are planning a meeting.
- LuciusQuando possumus convenire?When can we meet?
- ClaudiaDiēs Saturnī mihi convenit.Saturday works for me.
- LuciusOptime, tunc videbimur.Great, we will see each other then.
- ClaudiaVale, Luci!Goodbye, Lucius!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Saturday” translations and entries sabbatum, sabbata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries sabbatum, CC BY-SA 4.0.
