How to say “On Monday” and “On Friday” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to say simple time expressions like on Monday and on Friday is a practical first step in Brazilian Portuguese. This short guide explains grammar, common phrases, useful vocabulary, example sentences, and beginner tips so you can use these expressions confidently in schedules, messages, and everyday conversations.

Basic translation: days of the week in Brazilian Portuguese

Start by learning the days of the week. The main words you need are:

segunda-feira — Monday

sexta-feira — Friday

terça-feira — Tuesday

quarta-feira — Wednesday

quinta-feira — Thursday

sábado — Saturday

domingo — Sunday

How to say on Monday and on Friday

In Brazilian Portuguese the preposition commonly used to mean on a day is em or na/na segunda-feira depending on context. For most beginner contexts, use em + day or na/na + day for definite references.

na segunda-feira — on Monday (used when referring to a specific Monday)

na sexta-feira — on Friday (used when referring to a specific Friday)

Notice the contraction: em + a segunda-feira becomes na segunda-feira. Similarly, em + a sexta-feira becomes na sexta-feira. For plural or routine actions, you can also use às before plural times.

When to use na vs em

Use na when you mean a specific day or a habitual activity that feels definite. Use em more generally or in some fixed expressions.

Examples:

Na segunda-feira eu tenho aula de português.
Translation: On Monday I have Portuguese class.

Na sexta-feira nós saímos para jantar.
Translation: On Friday we go out for dinner.

Alternative with em:

Em segunda-feira is rare and sounds odd in many contexts. Stick with na segunda-feira for beginners.

Common beginner phrases with on Monday and on Friday

Simple, useful phrases that learners hear or use frequently:

Na segunda-feira eu trabalho das nove às cinco.
On Monday I work from nine to five.

Na sexta-feira tem reunião às dez.
On Friday there is a meeting at ten.

Vamos nos ver na sexta-feira?
Shall we see each other on Friday?

Na segunda-feira o restaurante abre às onze.
On Monday the restaurant opens at eleven.

Short everyday messages and schedule examples

Text messages, emails, and schedules often use compact phrasing. These examples are realistic and beginner-friendly.

Segunda-feira: reunião 14h
Monday: meeting 2 PM

Sexta-feira: happy hour às 18h
Friday: happy hour at 6 PM

Consulta na segunda-feira às 9h
Appointment on Monday at 9 AM

Entrega na sexta-feira
Delivery on Friday

Using definite articles and contractions

Portuguese often uses articles with days of the week when the day is definite. The feminine definite article a combines with em to form na. This is why na segunda-feira is correct rather than em segunda-feira in most contexts.

Breakdown:

em + a segunda-feira = na segunda-feira

em + a sexta-feira = na sexta-feira

For plural routines like every Monday, Portuguese uses às segundas-feiras or nas segundas-feiras.

Às segundas-feiras eu corro no parque.
On Mondays (every Monday) I run in the park.

Every Monday vs on Monday (one specific Monday)

Understanding the difference helps you communicate routine versus a single event.

Use na segunda-feira for a specific Monday:

Na segunda-feira eu vou ao dentista.
I am going to the dentist on Monday (a specific appointment).

Use às segundas-feiras for repeated weekly actions:

Às segundas-feiras eu vou ao dentista.
I go to the dentist on Mondays (every Monday).

Pronunciation tips for beginners

Keep pronunciation simple and clear. Key points:

segunda-feira — pronounced roughly seh-GUN-dah-FAY-rah. Stress on GUN.

sexta-feira — pronounced roughly SEHS-tah-FAY-rah. Stress on SEHS.

na segunda-feira — contract the em + a into na and keep the flow: nah seh-GUN-dah-FAY-rah.

Practice by repeating short sentences slowly, then speed up. Record yourself and compare to native Brazilian pronunciation on apps or audio resources.

Useful vocabulary related to days and schedules

Common schedule words beginners should learn:

dia — day

hoje — today

amanhã — tomorrow

ontem — yesterday

hora — hour, time

agora — now

aula — class

reunião — meeting

Beginner practice exercises

Short, realistic drills to build confidence.

1. Translate to Portuguese: I have class on Monday.
Suggested answer: Eu tenho aula na segunda-feira.

2. Translate to Portuguese: We meet on Friday at 7 PM.
Suggested answer: Nós nos encontramos na sexta-feira às 19h.

3. Make a text message inviting a friend for Friday:
Suggested: Oi, vamos jantar na sexta-feira?

4. Read a weekly schedule and find Monday:
Example entry: Segunda-feira — 10h: consulta

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake 1: Leaving out the article and saying em segunda-feira. Use na segunda-feira instead for most contexts.

Mistake 2: Confusing singular and plural. Use na segunda-feira for one specific Monday and às segundas-feiras for every Monday.

Mistake 3: Incorrect preposition with days. Do not use por for regular schedule expressions; por segunda-feira is incorrect for these contexts.

Practical situations where you will use these phrases

Beginner learners encounter days of the week in common scenarios. Examples below show realistic contexts and simple phrases.

Booking appointments: Consulta na segunda-feira às 11h — Appointment on Monday at 11 AM.

Making plans: Quer sair na sexta-feira? — Do you want to go out on Friday?

Reading timetables: Horário: segunda-feira, quarta-feira e sexta-feira — Schedule: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Work schedules: Trabalho na segunda-feira e na sexta-feira — I work on Monday and on Friday.

Short dialog using na segunda-feira and na sexta-feira

Practice with a two-line conversational example you might hear in Brazil.

Person A: Você pode ir ao supermercado na segunda-feira?
Person B: Não, na segunda-feira eu trabalho. Posso ir na sexta-feira.

Translation: Person A: Can you go to the supermarket on Monday? Person B: No, on Monday I work. I can go on Friday.

Quick review and memory tips

Use these simple tricks to remember the phrases:

1. Visual link: imagine a calendar and highlight segunda-feira and sexta-feira in different colors.

2. Repetition: practice 5 minutes daily making short sentences with na segunda-feira and na sexta-feira.

3. Real-life use: set reminders on your phone in Portuguese, for example Lembrete: reunião na sexta-feira.

Conclusion

Knowing how to say na segunda-feira and na sexta-feira opens many practical situations for beginners: schedules, messages, appointments, and plans. Focus on the contraction na + day for specific days, use às + plural for routines, and practice short, realistic sentences. With a few minutes of daily practice using the examples here, you will feel more confident reading timetables and speaking about plans in Brazilian Portuguese.