A Complete Beginner Guide (Brazilian & European Portuguese)
Learning the days of the week in Portuguese is easier than you think — especially once you understand the logic behind the names.
This lesson is part of our Portuguese Vocabulary Section, where essential beginner word groups are organized step by step.
Let’s look at the full list first.
Days of the Week in Portuguese
| English | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Monday | segunda-feira |
| Tuesday | terça-feira |
| Wednesday | quarta-feira |
| Thursday | quinta-feira |
| Friday | sexta-feira |
| Saturday | sábado |
| Sunday | domingo |
Why Do They Sound Like Numbers?
You may notice:
- segunda → second
- terça → third
- quarta → fourth
- quinta → fifth
- sexta → sixth
That’s not a coincidence.
In Portuguese, weekdays (Monday–Friday) are literally numbered days.
Originally, Sunday was considered the first day of the week in religious tradition. So:
- Monday = second day (segunda)
- Tuesday = third day (terça)
- Wednesday = fourth day (quarta)
- Thursday = fifth day (quinta)
- Friday = sixth day (sexta)
Understanding this makes memorization much easier.
If you need to review numbers, see:
👉 Portuguese Numbers 1–100
Do You Always Say “Feira”?
“Feira” originally referred to a market day. Today:
- In everyday speech (especially in Brazil), people often drop “feira”.
- In formal writing, it is usually kept.
Examples:
Informal:
- Hoje é segunda.
- Amanhã é terça.
Formal:
- Hoje é segunda-feira.
Both are correct.
Pronunciation Guide (Brazil vs Portugal)
Here are simplified pronunciation tips:
- segunda-feira → “seh-GOON-da fay-rah” (BR)
- terça-feira → “TER-sa fay-rah” (BR)
- quarta-feira → “KWAR-ta fay-rah”
- sábado → “SAH-ba-doo” (BR)
- domingo → “do-MEEN-goo” (BR)
European Portuguese reduces some vowels more strongly, especially in unstressed syllables.
Capitalization Rule
In Portuguese, days of the week are not capitalized.
❌ Segunda-feira
✅ segunda-feira
This rule also applies to months and languages.
To continue learning calendar vocabulary, see:
👉 Portuguese Months
Example Sentences
Here’s how days are used in real Portuguese:
- Eu trabalho na segunda-feira.
(I work on Monday.) - A reunião é na quinta.
(The meeting is on Thursday.) - Vamos viajar no sábado.
(We’re traveling on Saturday.)
Notice:
- na = on (for feminine days like segunda-feira)
- no = on (for masculine days like sábado, domingo)
If articles and agreement feel confusing, review your grammar foundation in the Portuguese Grammar Basics.
Talking About the Weekend
- sábado → Saturday
- domingo → Sunday
- fim de semana → weekend
Example:
- O que você vai fazer no fim de semana?
(What are you going to do this weekend?)
If you’re practicing real-life conversation like this, see our Portuguese Conversation Guide for structured speaking practice.
Common Beginner Mistakes
❌ Capitalizing days
Portuguese does not capitalize weekday names.
❌ Forgetting “na” or “no”
Incorrect: Eu trabalho segunda-feira.
Correct: Eu trabalho na segunda-feira.
❌ Mixing up number order
Remember: segunda is Monday (second day).
Practice Exercise
Translate:
- Monday
- Friday
- Sunday
- Wednesday
- Saturday
Answers:
- segunda-feira
- sexta-feira
- domingo
- quarta-feira
- sábado
Memory Tips
- Remember the number pattern (segunda = second).
- Saturday and Sunday are completely different words — memorize them separately.
- Practice saying them out loud in order.
Try repeating:
segunda, terça, quarta, quinta, sexta, sábado, domingo
Ready to Practice?
Once you know the days of the week, combine them with months and numbers to talk about:
- Appointments
- Travel plans
- Birthdays
- Schedules
For guided daily practice, check our comparison of the Best Apps to Learn Portuguese, where you can practice calendar vocabulary interactively.