Do the French capitalize days of the week?

No, the French do not capitalize days of the week.

In French, a key difference from English is that the names of the days of the week are not capitalized. This rule also consistently applies to the names of months. This simplification makes French capitalization rules for these time-related nouns more straightforward compared to English.

French Capitalization Rules for Days and Months

Unlike English, where days and months are always proper nouns and thus capitalized (e.g., Monday, January), French treats them as common nouns in this context. This means you will always see them written in lowercase unless they appear at the very beginning of a sentence.

For example:

• Days of the Week (Les jours de la semaine):

  • lundi (Monday)
  • mardi (Tuesday)
  • mercredi (Wednesday)
  • jeudi (Thursday)
  • vendredi (Friday)
  • samedi (Saturday)
  • dimanche (Sunday)

• Months of the Year (Les mois de l'année):

  • janvier (January)
  • février (February)
  • mars (March)
  • avril (April)
  • mai (May)
  • juin (June)
  • juillet (July)
  • août (August)
  • septembre (September)
  • octobre (October)
  • novembre (November)
  • décembre (December)

Practical Examples and Insights

Understanding this rule is crucial for correct written French. Here are some practical insights:

• Sentence Structure: Even if a day or month starts a sentence, it would be capitalized as part of the general sentence capitalization rule, not because the day or month itself requires it. For example: "Lundi, je vais au marché." (Monday, I am going to the market.)
• Consistent Rule: This lowercase convention is a consistent feature of French grammar, simplifying the writing process for these common temporal terms.
• Comparison to English: The table below illustrates the difference in capitalization between English and French for days of the week:

For further information on French grammar and common capitalization rules, you can refer to reputable language resources such as the Collins Dictionary French Grammar.