In this lesson, we’ll explore the Greek days of the week, their meanings, pronunciation, and some fun facts!
The Days of the Week in Greek
| English | Greek | Pronunciation | Meaning/Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Δευτέρα | Deftéra | “The second” (second day after Sunday) |
| Tuesday | Τρίτη | Tríti | “The third” |
| Wednesday | Τετάρτη | Tetárti | “The fourth” |
| Thursday | Πέμπτη | Pémpti | “The fifth” |
| Friday | Παρασκευή | Paraskeví | “Preparation” (for the Sabbath) |
| Saturday | Σάββατο | Sávvato | Derived from Hebrew “Sabbath” |
| Sunday | Κυριακή | Kyriakí | “The Lord’s day” (from Kyrios, meaning “Lord”) |
How to remember them more easily
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday follow a numerical pattern (second, third, fourth, fifth).
Friday (Paraskeví) means “preparation,” a reference to getting ready for the Sabbath in Christian and Jewish traditions.
Saturday (Sávvato) comes from the Hebrew Shabbat, just like in many other languages.
Sunday (Kyriakí) refers to the Christian tradition of dedicating the day to God.
Greek Days in Everyday Use
Now that you know the names, let’s see how you can use them in conversation:
• Τι μέρα είναι σήμερα; (Ti méra íne símera?) – What day is today?
• Σήμερα είναι Δευτέρα. (Símera íne Deftéra.) – Today is Monday.
• Αύριο είναι Παρασκευή! (Ávrio íne Paraskeví!) – Tomorrow is Friday!
Fun Facts about Days of the Week
• Tuesday (Τρίτη) is considered unlucky in Greece because of the fall of Constantinople on a Tuesday (May 29, 1453).
• Friday the 13th is not a bad omen in Greece! Instead, Greeks consider Tuesday the 13th as an unlucky day.
• Sundays are traditionally for rest and family gatherings. Even today, many businesses stay closed.
Keep practicing, and the Greek days will soon come naturally to you!
Καλή επιτυχία! (Kalí epitychía! – Good luck!)