French Days of the Week: Master Pronunciation and Meanings in English
In the heart of Europe, the French language holds a rich history that can be traced back to the ancient world. This is particularly evident in the names of the days of the week, each one linked to a celestial body and a Roman deity.
The French weekdays originate from the ancient system that connected each day to one of the seven classical celestial bodies known to early astronomers. These celestial bodies, known as Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon, were associated with Roman gods and astrology. Each day's name corresponds to the deity presiding over its "hour" according to Hellenistic astrology, a tradition adopted into Roman culture and passed down to French and other European languages.
- Lundi, or Monday, is named after the Moon (Latin dies Lunae).
- Mardi, or Tuesday, is named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
- Mercredi, or Wednesday, comes from Mercury, the messenger god.
- Jeudi, or Thursday, is named after Jupiter (Latin Iovis).
- Vendredi, or Friday, derives from Venus, goddess of love.
- Samedi, or Saturday, comes from Saturn.
- Dimanche, or Sunday, originally meant "Lord's day" (from Latin dies Dominicus), replacing the Roman dies Solis (day of the Sun) due to Christian influence, although the day's association with the Sun remains historically significant.
This system reflects an ancient synthesis. The Babylonians and Egyptians recognised seven "planets" (including the Sun and Moon treated as celestial bodies), which influenced the seven-day cycle. The Romans adapted these ideas from Hellenistic astrology and Jewish culture, assigning each day to a planetary deity. The French day names directly continue this Roman tradition by using the gods' Latin names.
Thus, the connection is both astronomical and mythological—days are linked to celestial bodies identified by ancient astronomers and named for their corresponding Roman deities. Over time, the Christian influence transformed Sunday’s name in French, but most other days preserve the Roman god roots translated into French.
In summary, the lineage of French weekday names is deeply rooted in Roman mythology and ancient celestial worship. Learning these names can be a fascinating journey into history, and resources such as flashcards, weekly schedules, French cartoons, and practice can aid in remembering them.
- My exploration of French weekday names led me to discover that each day is named after a celestial body known to ancient astronomers and the corresponding Roman deity, marking a connection between astronomy and mythology.
- Immersing myself in the study of these intriguing names and their origins offers an excellent opportunity for education-and-self-development, providing me with a unique understanding of both French language and cultural history.
