This guide gives all seven days with a beginner pronunciation guide and the Latin origin behind each name, then covers the grammar differences that catch English speakers out: lower case, the el and los construction, and how the plurals work. It finishes with the cultural differences worth knowing, including why Tuesday the 13th, not Friday, is the unlucky date in Spanish-speaking countries.
Days ending with ‘es’ do not need to be changed for the plural. For example, you would say ‘el lunes’ for the singular and ‘los lunes’ for the plural. Days that do not end with ‘es’, simply need an ‘s’ added on the end, such as ‘el domingo’ and ‘los domingos’.
Below is a table with all the days of the week laid out with their Spanish counterparts, as well as how you would pronounce each of them.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation | Origin |
| Monday | lunes | loo-nes | Comes from the Latin “dies Lunae”, meaning “day of the moon” |
| Tuesday | martes | Originates from the Latin phrase “dies Martis”, which means ”day of Mars”, which honours Mars, the Roman God of War | |
| Wednesday | miércoles | mier-ko-les | Comes from the Latin phrase “dies Mercurii”, meaning “day of Mercury”, which honours the Roman god Mercury, the God of Travel, Messages, and Commerce. |
| Thursday | jueves | hweh-behs | Originates from the Latin phrase “dies Iovis”, which means “day of Jove”, which is to honour Jove (or Jupiter), the Roman King of Gods. |
| Friday | viernes | bier-nes | Comes from the Latin phrase “dies Veneris”, which translates to “day of Venus”, which honours the Roman Goddess of Love, Venus. |
| Saturday | sábado | sah-bah-doh | Comes from the Latin word sabbătum, which derives from the Hebrew word Shabbat, meaning ‘day of rest’ |
| Sunday | domingo | doh-meeng-goh | Originates from the Latin phrase, “dies Dominicus”, meaning “the Lord’s day” |
The pronunciation column is an English approximation of what each word actually sounds like. Hearing a native speaker say miércoles and sábado shows where to stress each word, which is why Memrise matches each word with video of a real speaker rather than a written guide alone.
Key differences from their English counterparts
Although the Spanish days of the week can be directly translated into English, there are some key differences to be aware of to make sure your grammar is on point. Firstly, in English, you would say “on Saturday,” but this is not the case in Spanish, as you would use the prefix for “the” instead, so “el” or “los”, depending on whether it’s singular or plural.
Some cultural differences may be useful to know. For example, in English culture, if a Friday lands on the 13th of a month, it is considered bad luck. This is not the case in Spanish culture; instead, Tuesday the 13th is considered bad luck.
Cultural similarities to their English counterparts
There are some differences, but there are some cultural parallels to English. For example, “juernes” is a slang word that combines Thursday and Friday, which people often use when they are excited for the weekend.
Spanish culture also has a similar saying to “the Monday blues” to describe the low-energy mood of having to go back to work. A casual saying for this is “El lunes bajón”, meaning “the low-energy Monday”.
Frequently asked questions
Is Spanish an easy language to learn for an English speaker?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Spanish in Category I, the group of languages closest to English for native English speakers. The FSI estimates 24 to 30 weeks, or 600 to 750 class hours, to reach General Professional Proficiency. So “easiest” still means the better part of a year of intensive study, and rather longer at an evening-class pace.
What are some of the hardest parts of learning Spanish?
Spanish is one of the more approachable languages for English speakers, but two things frequently catch beginners out. Nouns carry gender, so every article and adjective around a noun must agree with it and learning the gender of each noun can take time. The second is understanding native speakers at conversational speed, because they run words together and drop letters. Memrise uses video of real speakers rather than studio recordings, so you meet ordinary speech early.
Is Mexican Spanish different from European Spanish?
Yes, there are some key differences between Mexican Spanish and European Spanish that you should be aware of. For example, “Z” and “C” both sound different depending on the region. In Spain, these letters are pronounced with a “th” sound, whereas in Mexico they are pronounced with an “s” sound.
Some things have entirely different words depending on what region you are in. For example, for the English word “juice”, you would say “jugo” in Mexican Spanish, but “zumo” in European Spanish.
Which version of Spanish is the easiest to learn?
Latin American versions of Spanish are often considered easier to learn, as pronunciation can be easier to understand. These versions also have simpler verb tenses, making getting your grammar right easier. Natives also tend to talk a bit slower than in Spain, so understanding and following along with a conversation will likely be easier.
What is the fastest way to learn Spanish?
Although there is no fast-track way to becoming fluent, immersing yourself in a Spanish-speaking culture is a great way to force yourself to use the language in real time. This might not be a viable option, of course, so setting your devices to Spanish is a great way to get familiar with everyday use of the language. It will also greatly benefit you if you are able to practise conversations daily.
