A fun and easy guide to the days of the week in Portuguese
Author
Killian Alexandre
Whether you’re doing business with Portuguese speakers, or making plans for Friday night with Portuguese speaking pals, pinpointing your next available event will be so much easier if you know how to say the days of the week in Portuguese.
Learning to recognize days of the week in Portuguese is a useful skill, and it becomes even more so when you know how to pronounce them. We’ll cover this topic here along with some other basics that every Portuguese learner should master!
Did you know that the days of the week are named after planets in most Roman languages, but Portuguese is an exception? In this blog post, we’ll explore how to say the days of the week in Portuguese, what they’re named after, as well as some cool and interesting learning hacks. So keep reading!
Days of the week in Portuguese and English, with pronunciation
Portuguese pronunciation can be tricky to master, especially if you're not just trying to say it but also to understand what people are saying. Learning Portuguese is like taking a trip back in time to when Latin was king.
The language uses the same alphabet as English, so you'll have an easier day at parties if your pronunciation isn't flawless but still good enough for basic communication. As a matter of fact, Portuguese is considered an easy language for native English speakers to learn.
When Portuguese speakers think about their weekdays, they don't really have names. They're just numbered from 2-6 and then sometimes referred to by what number comes before it. Weekend days, however, have unique names and they are all listed in the table below, together with their phonetic translation.
| English | Portuguese | Phonetic pronunciation | Pronunciation for English speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | segunda-feira | [segũdaˈfeɪɾa] | say-goon-dah fay-ee-rah |
| Tuesday | terça-feira | [teɾsaˈfeɪɾa] | tayr-sah fay-ee-rah |
| Wednesday | quarta-feira | [kʊaxˈtafeɪɾa] | kwar-tah fay-ee-rah |
| Thursday | quinta-feira | [kĩˈtafeɪɾa] | keen-tah fay-ee-rah |
| Friday | sexta-feira | [sestaˈfeɪɾa] | say-eesh-tah fay-ee-rah |
| Saturday | sábado | [ˈsabadʊ] | sah-bah-doo |
| Sunday | domingo | [doˈmĩgʊ] | doo-meen-goo |
FAQS for learning the Portuguese days of the week
Are days of the week masculine or feminine in Portuguese?
The days of the week are feminine, but weekends— Saturdays and Sundays-are masculine.
Do days of the week get capitalized in Portuguese?
Unlike in English, days of the week are not capitalized in Portuguese.
How do you abbreviate days of the week in Portuguese?
Days of the week can be abbreviated by their first three letters or by skipping the word "feira" for weekdays. For example, segunda-feira can be abbreviated as "segunda" or simply "seg." Saturday and Sunday can only be abbreviated to "sáb." and "dom.".
If you really want to save on your character count, you can also abbreviate segunda-feira as simply 2a. The table below summarizes this:
| Day of the Week | Commonly Used Abbreviation | Abbreviation | Super Short Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| segunda-feira | segunda | seg. | 2ª |
| terça-feira | terça | ter. | 3ª |
| quarta-feira | quarta | qua. | 4ª |
| quinta-feira | quinta | qui. | 5ª |
| sexta-feira | sexta | sex. | 6ª |
| sábado | sábado | sáb. | n/a |
| domingo | domingo | dom. | n/a |
What is the origin of the days of the week in Portuguese?
Portuguese has a unique way of naming days that was originally adopted for Holy Week but later expanded to cover the whole year. The ordering is:
- second;
- third;
- fourth;
- fifth; and
- sixth followed by the word "Feira'' which comes from feria, meaning "rest day."
What are some fun hacks to help me learn the days of the week in Portuguese?
Watch Brazilian soap operas
Did you know Brazil is the second largest producer and exporter of soap operas in the world? You can also learn a lot about Brazilian culture by watching soap operas. These shows are typically set during the week, so you'll hear the days of the week used frequently. And since most soap operas are available with Portuguese subtitles, you can follow along even if you don't understand everything that's being said.
Since we’re talking about drama here (a lot of it!), it's worth mentioning Portuguese is considered one of the most romantic languages in the world. Does that give you one more reason to start learning this beautiful language?
Watch soccer matches in Portuguese
Brazil is the country of soccer, and one of the best ways to learn Portuguese is by watching soccer matches. Many matches are televised with Portuguese commentary, so you can hear the days of the week used often in the Portuguese language.
If you don't understand what's being said, you can always look up words and phrases with Portuguese subtitles.
STOP!
Stop! is a game that combines vocabulary, writing, and general knowledge. In Brazil and Portugual, it is also known as Adedonha! To play Stop! all you need is paper and pencil (fun is a priority, even if you're on a budget!) and it is a very popular game among friends.
There's an online version of the game called StopoS that is available in every country.
Songs that will help you learn the days of the week in Portuguese
Listening to music is a great way of learning a new language, and there are plenty of songs about the days of the week in Portuguese. Below are some of our favorites:
Até Segunda-feira by Chico Buarque
Chico Buarque is a popular Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. This song is about a guy who wants to sing to his lover all night long, but only until Monday when he has to get back to work. Sounds familiar?
Segunda à Sexta (Não faz cara feia) by Turma do Pagode
Pagode is a style of Brazilian music that originated in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1990s. This song is about a guy who works from Monday to Friday and how he can't wait for the weekend so he can party.
Dias da semana by Toobys
If you're looking for a more upbeat song destined to kids that is easy to understand and sing along, look no further than Tooby's Dias da semana. This song is about the different activities you can do during the week, from Monday to Sunday.
These songs will help you learn the days of the week, as well as giving you a taste of Portuguese music. And if you're feeling brave, why not try singing along? Just be sure to brush up on your Portuguese first!
How to use the Portuguese days of the week in sentences
Now that you know the days of the week in Portuguese, it's time to put them to use. The table below will include some example sentences using them in real life.
| English meaning | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Sunday is the day I stay home with my family. | Domingo é o dia em que eu fico em casa com a minha família. |
| Today is Monday. | Hoje é segunda-feira. |
| I work from Monday to Friday. | Eu trabalho de segunda a sexta. |
| I go to Portuguese class every Tuesday. | Ontem foi terça-feira. |
| We're going to travel on Wednesday. | Nós vamos viajar na quarta |
| Thursday is my favorite day of the week. | Quinta-feira é o meu dia favorito da semana. |
| I'm going out with friends on Thursday night. | Vou sair com os amigos na quinta à noite. |
| Friday is the last day of the work week. | Sexta-feira é o último dia da semana de trabalho |
| Saturday is the day I rest. | Sábado é o dia em que eu descanso. |
Funny sentences with the Portuguese days of the week
Who doesn't love a good laugh? Whether you're trying to break the ice with someone you just met or you want to make your friends laugh, these funny sentences using the days of the week in Portuguese are sure to do the trick.
| English meaning | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| God created Mondays to punish us for the things we do on the weekend! | Deus fez as segundas-feiras para nos punir pelas coisas que aprontamos no fim de semana! |
| Important scientific fact: laziness smells like Monday. | Fato científico importante: a preguiça sente o cheiro da segunda-feira. |
| Be more like weekends and holidays, and less like a Monday. Nobody likes Monday. | Seja mais como finais de semana e feriados, e menos como uma segunda-feira. Ninguém gosta de segunda-feira. |
| Have a good week with an "w" for wicked as hell Monday! | Boa semana com "S" de segunda-feira chata pra caramba! |
| May your week be as light and wonderful as the weeks that have holidays on Tuesday or Thursday. | Que sua semana seja tão leve e maravilhosa quanto às semanas que tem feriados na terça ou na quinta-feira. |
| Have a good week, only after Thursday! | Boa semana, só depois de quinta-feira! |
Other useful expressions related to time in Portuguese
Portuguese is a language with many expressions related to time. Here are some useful expressions that you can use when talking about the days of the week:
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Today | Hoje |
| Yesterday | Ontem |
| Tomorrow | Amanhã |
| After tomorrow | Depois de amanhã |
| Early | Cedo |
| Late | Tarde |
| In three days | Daqui 3 dias |
| Next week | Semana que vem |
| Next month | Mês que vem |
| Next year | Ano que vem |
| Every day | Todo os dias |
| Every Monday | Todas as segundas feiras |
| Now | Agora |
| Right now | Agora mesmo |
| Later | Mais tarde |
| Never | Nunca |
Practice makes perfect
So there you have it, a fun and complete guide on how to say the days of the week in Portuguese. With a little practice, you'll be using them like a native speaker in no time. For more information on learning Portuguese, check out our more informative vocabulary lesson blog posts or explore online Portuguese classes.
