How to say “Today is Monday” in Portuguese basics

Introduction

Learning how to say simple calendar phrases is one of the quickest wins for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. This article focuses on the phrase Hoje é segunda-feira and related expressions, so you can understand, use, and recognize it in everyday situations like schedules, messages, and signs.

Basic phrase: Today is Monday

The most natural way to say Today is Monday in Brazilian Portuguese is Hoje é segunda-feira.

Breakdown of the phrase:

Hoje — today

é — is (third-person singular of the verb ser)

segunda-feira — Monday

Pronunciation tips

Pronounce Hoje like OH-zhee or OH-jee depending on accent; the H is silent. The e in é is an open E sound like the e in English bed. Segunda sounds like seh-GOON-dah. Feira sounds like FAY-rah or FAY-rah with a soft r typical of Brazilian Portuguese.

Say the whole phrase smoothly: Hoje é segunda-feira.

Variations and short forms

Brazilian Portuguese has a few shorter or casual ways to say the same idea. These are useful in speech or text messages.

Hoje é segunda — a common colloquial short form that drops -feira.

Hoje é segunda is fine in conversation and informal writing, but on official schedules you will more often see segunda-feira.

Hoje é seg — very informal shorthand used in notes or quick messages; avoid in formal contexts.

Using the verb estar instead of ser

For days of the week, Brazilian Portuguese normally uses ser. So Hoje é segunda-feira is correct. Using estar, as in Hoje está segunda-feira, is not natural and should be avoided.

Contextual examples: everyday situations

Below are realistic short examples where you might read, hear, or use the phrase.

Face-to-face: Hoje é segunda-feira. Vamos ao trabalho?
Today is Monday. Shall we go to work?

Text message: Hoje é segunda — reunião às 9h.
Today is Monday — meeting at 9 AM.

Class schedule or sign: Aula na segunda-feira.
Class on Monday.

Workplace notice: Entrega: segunda-feira.
Delivery: Monday.

Conversation practice: Hoje é segunda-feira, então o mercado está fechado?
Today is Monday, so is the market closed?

Examples combining time expressions

To say Today is Monday and show a time use: Hoje é segunda-feira às 14h.
Today is Monday at 2 PM.

To talk about tomorrow or yesterday use: Amanhã é terça-feira.
Tomorrow is Tuesday.
Ontem foi domingo.
Yesterday was Sunday.

Vocabulary cheat sheet for days of the week (Brazilian Portuguese)

segunda-feira — Monday

terça-feira — Tuesday

quarta-feira — Wednesday

quinta-feira — Thursday

sexta-feira — Friday

sábado — Saturday

domingo — Sunday

Notes about spellings and usage

Weekdays from Monday to Friday often include the word feira. In speech, Brazilians frequently drop feira in informal contexts: segunda, terça, quarta, quinta, sexta.
For Saturday and Sunday you always say sábado and domingo.

Pronouns and verbs with days

When making sentences about days, the verb usually remains ser. Examples:

Hoje é segunda-feira. — Today is Monday.

Amanhã é terça-feira. — Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Ontem foi domingo. — Yesterday was Sunday.

Semana que vem é segunda-feira. — Next week is Monday.

Short dialogues for beginners

Practice short realistic dialogues to build confidence.

Person A: Hoje é segunda-feira?
Person B: Sim, hoje é segunda-feira. Temos reunião às 10h.

Person A: Hoje é segunda?
Person B: Isso, e a aula começa às 18h.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake: Using estar with days. Avoid Hoje está segunda-feira.
Correction: Use Hoje é segunda-feira.

Mistake: Wrong order of words. Saying É hoje segunda-feira? is understandable but less natural; prefer Hoje é segunda-feira for a clear statement. For a question you can ask Hoje é segunda-feira? with a rising intonation.

Mistake: Mixing English weekday names with Portuguese articles or verbs. Use full Portuguese day names to sound natural: Hoje é segunda-feira, not Hoje é Monday.

Practical tips for remembering

Associate feira days with weekday routines like work or class. Link sábado and domingo to weekend activities to remember they are different forms. Practice writing the full phrase and the short form to recognize both on schedules.

Listen for the sounds Hoje é and the stress on segunda when speaking. Repeating short, realistic sentences helps retention: Hoje é segunda-feira. Hoje é terça-feira.

How you might see it on signs, schedules, and forms

On public transport schedules: Saída da linha às 8h (segunda a sexta).
This means the schedule applies Monday through Friday; note segunda a sexta means Monday to Friday.

On a class or clinic timetable: Atendimento: segunda-feira, das 9h às 12h.
Service: Monday, from 9 AM to 12 PM.

In a calendar entry: Reunião — segunda-feira, 14:00.
Meeting — Monday, 2:00 PM.

Practice exercises for beginners

Fill-in-the-blank: Hoje é _______. (Answer: segunda-feira)

Translate to Portuguese: Today is Monday. (Answer: Hoje é segunda-feira)

Change tense: Yesterday was Monday. (Answer: Ontem foi segunda-feira)

Create a short plan: Hoje é segunda-feira. Vou ao mercado às 17h.
Today is Monday. I will go to the market at 5 PM.

Brief grammar note: definite articles with days

When referring to a specific day of the week in Portuguese, you can add the definite article to indicate a habitual event: A segunda-feira é dia de reunião.
This means Monday is meeting day. In everyday speech Brazilians often omit the article: Segunda é dia de reunião.

Using the phrase in negative and interrogative forms

Negative: Hoje não é segunda-feira.
Today is not Monday.

Question: Hoje é segunda-feira?
Is today Monday?

Tag question for confirmation: Hoje é segunda-feira, não é?
Today is Monday, right?

Quick review and memory aids

Remember the core phrase: Hoje é segunda-feira. Practice the short form Hoje é segunda for casual contexts. Learn the week words in sequence to help recall: segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, quinta-feira, sexta-feira, sábado, domingo.

Create simple daily sentences about your routine to reinforce usage: Hoje é segunda-feira. Trabalho às 9h. Vou à academia às 19h.

Conclusion

Mastering Hoje é segunda-feira gives you a useful phrase for conversations, schedules, and practical interactions in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice the full and short forms, watch out for the verb ser, and use the example sentences in real contexts like messages and timetables to build confidence.