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Lesson 28 of 240

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Days of the week in French

Sam wants the Saturday market, but he is not sure what day it is. At Café des Tilleuls, Odile will set the days straight.

Gaspard already has his coat on, tote on his arm, as if the stalls were open.

By the end, you'll ask what day it is, say today, tomorrow, and yesterday, and name Saturday and Sunday.

By the end of this lesson

Say today, tomorrow, and the days of the week.

  • On est quel jour ?What day is it?
  • Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi.Today is Monday.
  • Demain, c'est mardi.Tomorrow is Tuesday.
  • Et hier ?And yesterday?
  • C'est samedi.It's Saturday.
  • C'est dimanche.It's Sunday.

Scene — not market day

Monday morning at Café des Tilleuls. Sam comes in with the market on his mind. Odile is at the zinc counter, glasses on the chain.

The window table still has its blank brass sign. Gaspard sits at the next table on two chairs, coat on, tote ready, café crème untouched.

A wide morning view of Café des Tilleuls with Sam coming in, Odile at the zinc, and Gaspard at the table beside the empty window table.

Learn — today and the days

Six short lines cover the days: what day is it, today, tomorrow, and yesterday.

You also get Saturday and Sunday, the two names you need for the market and a quiet café.

  1. Sam stopping just inside the doorway with a market tote, turned toward Odile at the zinc.

    On est quel jour ?

    What day is it?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need the day of the week.

    Learn it as one piece to ask the day.

    Say it: On is a short nasal sound.

  2. Odile behind the zinc with both palms on the counter, looking toward the door in calm certainty.

    Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi.

    Today is Monday.

    When to use it: Say this to name today as Monday.

    Learn it as one piece for today and Monday.

    Say it: The d links into hui in Aujourd'hui.

  3. Sam’s raised hand counting forward on the fingers beside the zinc, a tote strap at the shoulder.

    Demain, c'est mardi.

    Tomorrow is Tuesday.

    When to use it: Say this to name tomorrow as Tuesday.

    Learn it as one piece for tomorrow and Tuesday.

  4. Over Sam’s shoulder toward Odile leaning on the zinc with a prompting hand.

    Et hier ?

    And yesterday?

    When to use it: Ask this after today, to check the day before.

    Learn it as one piece for yesterday.

    Say it: The h in hier is silent.

  5. The empty boulevard outside the café windows, with Sam and Gaspard soft inside near the window tables.

    C'est samedi.

    It's Saturday.

    When to use it: Say this to name Saturday, like market day.

    Learn it as one piece for Saturday.

  6. Low view of Gaspard at his table with an extra chair and an untouched café crème, Odile looking over from the zinc.

    C'est dimanche.

    It's Sunday.

    When to use it: Say this to name the day as Sunday.

    Learn it as one piece for Sunday.

    Say it: The an in dimanche is a nasal sound.

Story — already dressed

Watch Sam check the day at the counter. He hopes the market is open.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The lamps are still on. Odile looks up from the counter.
  2. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  3. SamBonjour. On est quel jour ?Hello. What day is it?
  4. OdileAujourd'hui, c'est lundi. Demain, c'est mardi.Today is Monday. Tomorrow is Tuesday.
  5. SamEt hier ?And yesterday?
  6. OdileC'est dimanche.It's Sunday.
  7. Sam glances toward the boulevard. There are no crates.
  8. OdileLe marché ? C'est samedi.The market? It's Saturday.
  9. Gaspard already has his coat on. He does not sit at the window table.
  10. GaspardC'est samedi.It's Saturday.

Practice — Monday or Saturday

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    French

    Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi.Drop the English here
    Demain, c'est mardi.Drop the English here
    C'est samedi.Drop the English here
    C'est dimanche.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its French, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Odile asks what day it is. It is Monday morning.

  4. Fill the gap

    Tomorrow is Tuesday.

    Demain, c'est ____.

  5. Pick the reply

    Odile says:

    Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi.

    Today is Monday.

    And you reply with:

  6. Build the line

    It's Saturday.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Swap the word

    Name the day: it is Sunday.

    C'est ____.

  8. What does it mean?

    Demain, c'est mardi.

  9. What do you say?

    You walk into the café in the morning. Greet Odile.

  10. True or false?

    This line names Saturday.

  11. What do you say?

    You are leaving the café this morning. You will be back tomorrow.

Say it — name the day

Now you're Sam at the counter on a Monday. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. OdileBonjour.Hello.
  2. Sam (you)Ask what day it is.

    On est quel jour ?

    What day is it?

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

FrenchEnglish
On est quel jour ?What day is it?
Aujourd'hui, c'est lundi.Today is Monday.
Demain, c'est mardi.Tomorrow is Tuesday.
Et hier ?And yesterday?
C'est samedi.It's Saturday.
C'est dimanche.It's Sunday.
Next: lesson 29Can I?

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these days handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps today, tomorrow, and the days ready.

Open Yak Cards