Days of the Week in Spanish
with Castilian and Latin American Audio
Updated 17 April 2026
Tap any day to hear it. Toggle the accent to hear it spoken in Spain (Castilian) or Mexico (Latin American). Ready to practise? Start the quiz - 60 seconds, no signup.
Latin American Mexican: clear /s/, softer /x/ in jueves
| Spanish | English | IPA | Say it like | Gender | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lunes | Monday | /ˈlu.nes/ | loo-ness | m. | |
| martes | Tuesday | /ˈmaɾ.tes/ | mar-tess | m. | |
| miércoles | Wednesday | /ˈmjeɾ.ko.les/ | mee-AIR-koh-less | m. | |
| jueves | Thursday | /ˈxwe.βes/ | hweh-vess | m. | |
| viernes | Friday | /ˈbjeɾ.nes/ | bee-AIR-ness | m. | |
| sábado | Saturday | /ˈsa.βa.ðo/ | SAH-bah-doh | m. | |
| domingo | Sunday | /doˈmiŋ.ɡo/ | doh-MEEN-goh | m. |
Ready to test yourself?
“El lunes” vs “Los lunes”
One of the most common grammar questions for learners and heritage speakers alike. The rule is simpler than it looks:
- el lunes= on Monday (this specific coming Monday)
- los lunes= on Mondays (every Monday, habitual)
- Hoy es lunes= Today is Monday (no article after “ser”)
Why does the Spanish week start on Monday?
If you have ever opened a Spanish-language calendar and noticed Monday in the first column, you were not imagining things. Every Spanish-speaking country follows the ISO 8601 international standard, which designates Monday as the first day of the week. The United States uses a Sunday-first calendar, a convention rooted in biblical tradition and commercial habit. The practical consequence: if you email a calendar invite to a Mexican or Spanish colleague, the days in the column header will shift by one. Knowing this small cultural difference prevents real scheduling confusion.
Explore regional differences: Spain, Mexico, Argentina →For Heritage Speakers
Already know these days from home but want to sharpen your pronunciation, confirm the grammar rules, or help your kids learn them too? The heritage speaker section skips the beginner basics and goes straight to the nuances that matter for bilingual households.
Heritage speaker guide →Writing the Date in Spanish
The Spanish date format places the day number first: 17 de abril de 2026. Months are lowercase. The word “de” connects each part. You can optionally add the day of the week: jueves, 17 de abril de 2026.
Full grammar and dates guide →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 7 days of the week in Spanish?+
In order from Monday: lunes, martes, miercoles, jueves, viernes, sabado, domingo. Spanish weeks start on Monday per the ISO 8601 standard used across Spain and Latin America.
Are days of the week capitalized in Spanish?+
No. Spanish days of the week are lowercase in the middle of a sentence: 'el lunes', 'los martes'. They are capitalized only when they begin a sentence. This differs from English, where Monday, Tuesday, etc. are always capitalized.
What is the difference between el lunes and los lunes?+
El lunes means 'on Monday' (this specific coming Monday). Los lunes means 'on Mondays' (every Monday, a habitual action). After the verb ser, no article is used: 'Hoy es lunes.' See the full grammar guide for example sentences and an interactive drill.
How do you pronounce miercoles?+
Miercoles is pronounced approximately 'mee-AIR-koh-less' with the stress on the first syllable. The IPA is /ˈmjeɾ.ko.les/ in Latin American Spanish. The 'c' before the 'o' is a hard /k/ sound. Use the audio button on this page to hear both Castilian and Latin American pronunciations.
Why does the Spanish week start on Monday?+
Spanish-speaking countries follow the ISO 8601 international standard, which places Monday first. This is standard across Europe and Latin America. The US Sunday-first calendar is the exception, not the rule, globally.
What does domingo mean?+
Domingo comes from the Latin 'dies Dominicus', meaning 'the Lord's day'. It was a Christian replacement for the pagan 'dies Solis' (Sun's day). The root also gives English words like 'dominion' and 'dominant'. See the full etymology page for all seven days.
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