Brazilian Portuguese Basics
What Are the Brazilian Portuguese Days of the Week?
The Brazilian Portuguese days of the week are: segunda-feira (Monday), terça-feira (Tuesday), quarta-feira (Wednesday), quinta-feira (Thursday), sexta-feira (Friday), sábado (Saturday) and domingo (Sunday). They are written with a hyphen and an accent on terça and sábado. This guide explains the forms, the pronunciation and the mistakes English speakers make.
By Renata · October 27, 2026 · 4 min
The full list with correct spelling and accents
Brazilian Portuguese uses a simple pattern for Monday to Friday: a number word plus feira. Segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, quinta-feira and sexta-feira literally mean second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth fair or market day. Saturday and Sunday break the pattern: sábado and domingo.
The accents matter. Terça has a cedilla (ç) and sábado has an acute accent on the first a. Without them the words are misspelled. In everyday speech Brazilians often drop the feira: you will hear 'na segunda' or 'na sexta' meaning 'on Monday' or 'on Friday'.
- segunda-feira = Monday
- terça-feira = Tuesday
- quarta-feira = Wednesday
- quinta-feira = Thursday
- sexta-feira = Friday
- sábado = Saturday
- domingo = Sunday
How to say 'on Monday', 'every Friday' and 'next week'
To say 'on' a day, use na for most days and no for sábado and domingo: na segunda-feira, na terça-feira, no sábado, no domingo. For repeated actions, use the plural article: às segundas-feiras (on Mondays), aos sábados (on Saturdays).
For 'next Monday' say na próxima segunda-feira or na segunda que vem. For 'last Friday' say na sexta passada. The word feira can be omitted in all of these when the context is clear.
| English | Brazilian Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|---|
| on Monday | na segunda-feira | also na segunda |
| on Saturday | no sábado | use no, not na |
| on Sundays | aos domingos | plural for habits |
| next Tuesday | na próxima terça-feira | or na terça que vem |
| last Wednesday | na quarta passada | feira optional |
| every Friday | todas as sextas-feiras | or às sextas |
European Portuguese vs Brazilian Portuguese: what changes
The names of the days are the same in European and Brazilian Portuguese, but usage differs. In Portugal, segunda-feira is often shortened to segunda, and the hyphen is standard in both countries. The bigger difference is pronunciation and the surrounding grammar, not the day names themselves.
If you are learning Brazilian Portuguese, do not copy European Portuguese word order or pronunciation from generic online lists. For example, Brazilians say 'na segunda' more often than 'à segunda', which is common in Portugal. Renata teaches Brazilian Portuguese only and does not prepare students for the CIPLE exam, because that exam tests European Portuguese and marks Brazilian usage wrong.
Common mistakes English speakers make
The most common mistake is forgetting the hyphen in segunda-feira. Another is using na with sábado and domingo: it should be no sábado and no domingo. Also, do not translate 'Wednesday' as 'quarta' alone in writing without feira unless the context is very clear.
A second mistake is pronouncing terça with a hard c. The ç sounds like ss in 'sun'. Sábado is stressed on the first syllable: SÁ-ba-do. Domingo is stressed on the second: do-MIN-go.
- Write segunda-feira, not segunda feira.
- Use no sábado and no domingo, not na.
- Pronounce terça as 'TER-sa'.
- Stress sábado on the first syllable.
A short dialogue using the days
Here is a simple Brazilian Portuguese dialogue. Notice the use of na and no, and the omission of feira in speech.
Você trabalha na segunda? Não, na segunda eu descanso. Trabalho de terça a sexta. E no sábado? No sábado eu trabalho de manhã. Domingo é meu dia livre.
Learn with a Brazilian teacher, not a generic list
Renata is Brazilian and teaches Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers, evening hours only, a few lessons per week. She does not teach European Portuguese. If you want to sound Brazilian and avoid European Portuguese forms, a native teacher corrects your pronunciation and word choice from the start.
Prices: a paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR, credited against a later package. One-to-one evening lessons are 65 EUR per hour, a 5-lesson pack is 300 EUR, a small group of up to 4 people is 89 EUR per month, and children are 69 EUR per month. There is no self-study course on sale yet, only a waiting list. Contact only via WhatsApp +351 935 328 206.
Common questions
What are the days of the week in Brazilian Portuguese?
They are segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, quinta-feira, sexta-feira, sábado and domingo. Monday to Friday follow the pattern of a number plus feira. Saturday and Sunday are sábado and domingo.
Do Brazilians say 'segunda' or 'segunda-feira'?
Both are correct. In conversation, Brazilians often shorten to segunda, terça, quarta, quinta and sexta. In writing, especially formal writing, the full form with feira is more common.
Is it 'na sábado' or 'no sábado'?
It is no sábado, because sábado is masculine. For domingo, also use no domingo. For Monday to Friday, use na: na segunda-feira, na terça-feira, and so on.
Are the days of the week the same in European and Brazilian Portuguese?
The names are the same, but usage and pronunciation differ. Brazilians tend to say na segunda where Portuguese speakers might say à segunda. If you are learning Brazilian Portuguese, learn the Brazilian patterns.
How do you pronounce terça-feira and sábado?
Terça sounds like 'TER-sa', with the ç like ss in 'sun'. Sábado is stressed on the first syllable: 'SÁ-ba-do'. Domingo is stressed on the second: 'do-MIN-go'.
Can Renata help me with Brazilian Portuguese days and pronunciation?
Yes. Renata teaches Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers, evening hours only. She offers a paid diagnostic lesson for 45 EUR, one-to-one lessons at 65 EUR per hour, and a 5-lesson pack for 300 EUR. Contact her only via WhatsApp +351 935 328 206.
Learning this with someone is faster
Renata teaches Brazilian Portuguese one to one, in the evening, in small numbers. A paid diagnostic lesson is 45 EUR and it is credited against a later package.
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