Brazilian Portuguese basics
Days of the Week in Brazilian Portuguese: Why Monday Is Segunda-Feira
The days of the week in Brazilian Portuguese are segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, quinta-feira, sexta-feira, sábado and domingo. There is no single word for Monday: segunda-feira literally means second fair or second day, and the pattern runs from second to sixth before the weekend. This guide explains the logic and how Brazilians shorten the names in speech.
By Renata · October 17, 2026 · 5 min
The full list: from segunda-feira to domingo
Brazilian Portuguese names the weekdays by counting from Sunday, which is domingo. Monday is the second day, so it is segunda-feira. Tuesday is terça-feira, Wednesday quarta-feira, Thursday quinta-feira, Friday sexta-feira. Saturday is sábado and Sunday is domingo, and neither follows the feira pattern.
The word feira originally meant a market or fair, and in this context it marks a weekday. You will also see the forms written without the hyphen, like segunda feira, but the standard spelling in Brazil is with a hyphen: segunda-feira. All weekdays are masculine, so you say o sábado and o domingo, and os dias úteis for business days.
- segunda-feira = Monday
- terça-feira = Tuesday
- quarta-feira = Wednesday
- quinta-feira = Thursday
- sexta-feira = Friday
- sábado = Saturday
- domingo = Sunday
Why there is no Monday word
English has a separate name for each day, but Brazilian Portuguese uses a numbered system for the working week. Monday is not named after the moon or a god; it is simply the second day after domingo. That is why you will never find a single word like lundi or Montag in Portuguese.
This numbering is a feature, not a gap. Once you know that segunda means second, terça means third, quarta fourth, quinta fifth and sexta sixth, you can generate all five weekdays without memorizing new vocabulary. The only two days you must learn separately are sábado and domingo.
| English | Brazilian Portuguese | Literal meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | segunda-feira | second fair |
| Tuesday | terça-feira | third fair |
| Wednesday | quarta-feira | fourth fair |
| Thursday | quinta-feira | fifth fair |
| Friday | sexta-feira | sixth fair |
| Saturday | sábado | sabbath |
| Sunday | domingo | lord's day |
How Brazilians shorten the days in real speech
In everyday conversation, Brazilians almost always drop the feira. You will hear segunda, terça, quarta, quinta and sexta on their own. For example, instead of saying Nos vemos na segunda-feira, people say Nos vemos na segunda. The meaning is clear from context.
When writing informally, abbreviations are common: seg, ter, qua, qui, sex for the weekdays, and sáb and dom for the weekend. In formal writing, such as a business email, you should use the full form with the hyphen: segunda-feira. Note that terça can also mean a Tuesday, but it is never confused with terço, which means a third portion.
- segunda (Monday), often just segunda
- terça (Tuesday), often just terça
- quarta (Wednesday), often just quarta
- quinta (Thursday), often just quinta
- sexta (Friday), often just sexta
- sábado and domingo are rarely shortened in speech
Using the days in sentences: prepositions and gender
All weekdays are masculine, so you use o before them: o domingo, o sábado, a segunda-feira (but note that segunda-feira is feminine because feira is feminine). When saying on a day, use em + o = no for masculine days and na for feminine days. For example: no sábado (on Saturday), na segunda-feira (on Monday).
To say every Monday, use às segundas-feiras or toda segunda-feira. To say next Monday, use na próxima segunda-feira. To say last Friday, use na sexta-feira passada. These patterns are the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese, but the pronunciation and rhythm differ.
| English | Brazilian Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|---|
| on Monday | na segunda-feira | feminine, so na |
| on Saturday | no sábado | masculine, so no |
| every Tuesday | toda terça-feira | or às terças-feiras |
| next Wednesday | na próxima quarta-feira | common in scheduling |
| last Thursday | na quinta-feira passada | or na quinta passada |
Common mistakes English speakers make
The biggest mistake is trying to translate Monday as a single word. Do not invent words like lunes or monday in Portuguese. Always use segunda-feira or just segunda. Another common error is forgetting the hyphen in writing, or using European Portuguese forms like segunda feira without the hyphen, which is less standard in Brazil.
Also, remember that domingo is the first day of the week in the Brazilian calendar, not Monday. When someone says segunda, they mean the day after Sunday. And do not confuse sexta-feira (Friday) with sexta (a sixth), though context usually makes it clear.
Practice tip: use the days in your own routine
The fastest way to lock in the days is to connect them to your weekly schedule. Say out loud what you do on each day: Na segunda eu trabalho. Na terça eu estudo português. Na quarta eu vou à academia. This forces you to use the shortened forms naturally.
If you want to check your pronunciation or ask questions, you can reach Renata on WhatsApp at +351 935 328 206. She teaches Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers in the evening, and she does not teach European Portuguese or prepare students for the CIPLE exam, because that exam tests European Portuguese and marks Brazilian usage as wrong.
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. In speech, Brazilians usually shorten the weekdays to segunda, terça, quarta, quinta and sexta.
Why is Monday called segunda-feira and not a single word?
Brazilian Portuguese numbers the working days from Sunday, which is domingo. Monday is the second day, so it is segunda-feira, literally second fair. There is no separate word for Monday.
How do Brazilians abbreviate the days of the week?
In informal writing, they use seg, ter, qua, qui, sex, sáb and dom. In speech, they drop the feira and say segunda, terça, quarta, quinta and sexta.
Is it wrong to say 'segunda feira' without the hyphen?
The standard spelling in Brazil is with a hyphen: segunda-feira. Without the hyphen it is still understandable but less correct in formal writing.
Are the days of the week masculine or feminine?
Sábado and domingo are masculine. The feira days are feminine because feira is feminine, so you say a segunda-feira. This affects prepositions: no sábado but na segunda-feira.
Does Renata teach the days of the week in Brazilian Portuguese?
Yes, she teaches Brazilian Portuguese online to English speakers, including vocabulary and pronunciation. She does not teach European Portuguese or prepare students for the CIPLE exam. You can contact her on WhatsApp at +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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