Why are English days named what they are?

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Reading time: 4 minutes

Ever wondered why Monday is called Monday or how Wednesday got its name? The names of the days of the week in English have fascinating origins, rooted in ancient history and steeped in mythology. Understanding these origins not only enriches our language ability but also provides intriguing insights into cultural heritage.

Origins of the days of the weeks names
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Origins of the seven-day week

The concept of a seven-day week has ancient origins, tracing back to the Babylonians around 1500 BCE. The Babylonians, keen astronomers, divided their lunar cycle into four weeks of seven days each, aligning with the phases of the moon. This practice was later adopted by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who found the seven-day cycle practical and meaningful.

The ancient Hebrews' influence also played a crucial role in establishing the seven-day week. According to the biblical account of creation, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, establishing a divine precedent for a seven-day cycle. This tradition was deeply ingrained in Hebrew culture and religious practices.

By the 1st century CE, the Romans had formalized the seven-day week, integrating it into their calendar system. This structure, combining astronomical observations and religious traditions, eventually spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, becoming the foundation of the modern seven-day week we use today.

In the Arabic and Hebrew calendars, the day begins at sunset, which contrasts with the Swahili concept of the day starting at sunrise and the Western world, where the day starts at midnight. This highlights the cultural influences on how days are numbered and identified within these different calendrical systems.

Origins of days of the week

How did Monday get its name? Meaning of Monday

Monday is named after the Moon. The Old English word for Monday was ѴDzԲԻæ, which translates to "Moon's day". This naming convention is quite common across various languages; for instance, in Latin, it's dies Lunae, also meaning "day of the Moon".

Tuesday name origin

Tuesday is named after the Norse god (also known as Tyr), a god of war and sky. The Old English term վɱæ directly reflects this association. The connection to Mars, the Roman god of war, can also be seen in other languages, such as French (mardi).

Why is Wednesday called Wednesday?

Wednesday is named after (or Woden), the chief god in Norse mythology. The Old English ´ǻԱæ translates to "Woden's day". This day is associated with Mercury in Roman mythology, which is why it's called éDZ in Spanish and mercredi in French.

Thursday name meaning

Thursday is named in honor of , the Norse god of thunder. The term 'Thor's day' serves as the etymological basis for Thursday. In Old English, it was Þū԰æ (Thunor’s day). The link to Jupiter, the Roman king of gods and god of thunder, explains the name jeudi in French and jueves in Spanish.

Friday history and meaning

Friday is named after (also known as Frigga or Freya), the Norse goddess associated with love and beauty. The Old English term æ means "Frigg's day". In Roman mythology, this day is linked to Venus, the goddess of love, which is reflected in names like viernes in Spanish and vendredi in French.

Saturday name origin

Saturday is unique among the English day names as it retains its Roman origin, specifically named after the Roman god , the Roman god of wealth and time. The Old English æٱԱæ directly references this deity. Interestingly, in other Germanic languages, the name often refers to the Sabbath, such as Samstag in German.

Sunday - The sun's day

Sunday is named after the Sun. Icelandic uniquely retains 'only the Sun' as the name for Sunday, rejecting names derived from pagan gods. The Old English ܲԲԲԻæ translates to “Sun’s day”, reflecting its importance and reverence in various cultures. This name is consistent across many languages, highlighting the widespread significance of the Sun.

The importance of understanding day names etymology

Understanding the etymology of day names helps language learners grasp the historical context and deepens their appreciation of English. These names are more than just labels for days; they are windows into ancient beliefs, cultures and linguistic evolution. The influence of Greek and Latin names on the naming of the days of the week during the Greco-Roman tradition is particularly notable, as the classical planets from Hellenistic astrology played a significant role in this process.

Exploring the origins of the day names in English reveals a blend of mythology, history and language evolution. From the Moon to Norse gods to Roman deities, each name tells a story of cultural significance.

Read our blog posts 'Fantasy, the English language and Tolkien' and 'How the English language has changed over the decades'.

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    It’s more important for teachers to help students find ways to practice their English outside the classroom. The more efficient students become at autonomous learning, the better they’ll be able to overcome interruptions and make up for lost time.

    It will be even more challenging if you're a self-learner as you do not have a teacher looking over you and steering your learning. But it’s helpful to learn from the teaching world and pick up teacher tips that you can apply to your own studies and techniques.

    Why are learning new words so challenging?

    Students learning new words in English generally progress steadily up until the pre-intermediate and intermediate levels. But after that, they start to struggle.

    This is because there’s a big difference between the volume of the vocabulary that intermediate students and upper-intermediate students need to know.

    • Intermediate (B1/B2 level) students need to know about 2,500 words
    • upper-intermediate (B2/C1 level) students need to know about 7,500-9,000 words.

    That’s a big jump in numbers. But the real challenge is that those 5,000+ new words are not very frequent. Consequently, students don’t encounter them very often, making it difficult to recall them and leap from one level to the next.

    While there’s no simple answer to this problem, there are ways to help students overcome it. The following framework can be a big help in any classroom:

    1. Focus on the most important words:Always teach appropriate words for the levels your students are currently at.
    2. Provide memorable first encounters:You never get a second chance to make a first impression. So, ensure your student's first encounter with a new word is as memorable as possible.
    3. Teach effective word-learning strategies:Provide your students with valuable tools, tactics and resources so that they can learn new words outside the classroom, too.
    4. Organize repeat encounters:Vocabulary works on a “use it or lose it” basis, so ensure your students encounter the vocabulary you want them to learn repeatedly.

    How to teach effective word-learning strategies

    There are three steps to teach students how to learn new words effectively:

    1. Help learners maximize their exposure to English and find opportunities to use English outside the classroom

    Thanks to the internet and technology, there are many ways that students can engage with the English language outside the classroom.

    However, simple exposure to a new language is not enough – it takes much longer and is less effective than active learning. When students do something with the language they’re exposed to; it is far more memorable.

    That’s why it’s crucial for teachers to help their students seek out English in their own time and use the language, turning passive exposure into active learning.

    • Encourage students to read, listen and view things that they’re interested in or passionate about in English. For example, introduce them to new blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, or TV series that fit their interests – since personalization leads to more effective learning.
    • Help students find ways to use English in different ways. For example, they can start a learning diary, make to-do lists in English, write social media posts, and create word cards to practice their writing. For speaking, they can record voice memos or video stories, take part in Zoom discussions, or participate in speaking projects and live classes.

    2. Provide ways for students to discover the meaning of new words

    It’s crucial to help students improve their guesswork. Instead of asking online translators to translate every time they encounter a new word, they should be able to guess the meaning of new vocabulary differently.

    • One approach is to look at the morphology of words and consider word families. For example, you can ask your students to brainstorm words with a common root. Or, you can have them identify and practice common suffixes.
    • Explore “true friends” or words that are similar in English and your student's native language.
    • Help your students figure out how to guess the meaning of a word from the context. To do this, you must ensure that your students don’t just hear or read new words but also put them into use.

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    This helps to connect learning inside and outside the classroom, and it’s fun!

    3. Provide students with strategies to consolidate their knowledge of new words

    Finally, teachers should give students ideas on how to memorize words outside the classroom. You can have your students produce word cards and use a Word Store booklet to practice tasks like matching words with images or definitions.

    Lastly, it’s important to teach students memory tricks or mnemonics so they can retain the new words they encounter.