Learning how to say and use the phrase on Thursday in French is essential for anyone who wants to communicate clearly in French, especially when talking about schedules, appointments, or past events. Understanding the correct translation, as well as when and how to use it in different sentence structures, can help you sound more natural and confident. Whether you’re making plans or recalling what happened earlier in the week, knowing how to say on Thursday in French is a useful skill for beginners and intermediate learners alike.
Basic Translation of ‘On Thursday’ in French
The direct translation of on Thursday in French isjeudi. However, when you want to say on Thursday, the full expression is:
le jeudi
The word le functions like the English word on in this context. While le literally means the, in relation to days of the week, it can mean on when referring to repeated or habitual actions.
Examples of le jeudi in Sentences
- Je vais à la gymle jeudi. I go to the gym on Thursday.
- Elle travaille de la maisonle jeudi. She works from home on Thursday.
- Nous avons cours de françaisle jeudi. We have French class on Thursday.
Using Jeudi Without the topic Le
Sometimes in French, the topic le is dropped, especially when talking about a single occurrence. In that case, jeudi on its own can mean Thursday or on Thursday, depending on the context.
Examples
- Je vais à Parisjeudi. I’m going to Paris on Thursday.
- Le match estjeudi. The match is on Thursday.
So, if you’re referring to a specific upcoming Thursday, just use jeudi without le. But if you’re talking about a regular event that happens every Thursday, use le jeudi.
Days of the Week in French
For context, here is a list of all the days of the week in French with their English equivalents:
- Lundi Monday
- Mardi Tuesday
- Mercredi Wednesday
- Jeudi Thursday
- Vendredi Friday
- Samedi Saturday
- Dimanche Sunday
Capitalization in French Days of the Week
Unlike English, French does not capitalize the days of the week unless they begin a sentence. So you should write jeudi instead of Jeudi, unless it appears at the start of a sentence.
Saying This Thursday and Next Thursday in French
If you want to be more specific and say this Thursday or next Thursday, here’s how you do it:
This Thursday
Ce jeudi used to refer to the Thursday of the current week.
- Nous partons en voyagece jeudi. We’re leaving for a trip this Thursday.
Next Thursday
Jeudi prochain means next Thursday.
- Le concert estjeudi prochain. The concert is next Thursday.
Last Thursday
Jeudi dernier used to refer to the Thursday of the previous week.
- Il a neigéjeudi dernier. It snowed last Thursday.
Using On Thursday in Different Tenses
The way you use on Thursday can vary depending on the tense of the sentence. Below are examples in present, past, and future tenses:
Present Tense
- Je mange toujours dehorsle jeudi. I always eat out on Thursday.
Past Tense
- Je suis allé chez ma sÅurjeudi. I went to my sister’s on Thursday.
Future Tense
- Nous voyageronsjeudi prochain. We will travel next Thursday.
Expressions and Idioms Involving Days of the Week
French doesn’t have many idioms specifically using jeudi, but days of the week are often used in scheduling and routine descriptions. For example:
- Un jeudi sur deux every other Thursday
- Chaque jeudi every Thursday
Examples
- Elle va chez le coiffeurun jeudi sur deux. She goes to the hairdresser every other Thursday.
- Les réunions ont lieuchaque jeudi. Meetings take place every Thursday.
Pronunciation Tips for Jeudi
French pronunciation can be tricky for beginners. The word jeudi is pronounced roughly aszhuh-dee.
Here’s how to break it down:
- Jeu sounds like the English ‘je’ in measure
- di sounds like dee
Practice saying it slowly: zhuh-dee. With time, it will become easier and more natural.
Key Grammar Rules to Remember
- Use le before the day to describe habitual actions.
- Use just jeudi when referring to a specific Thursday.
- Don’t capitalize jeudi unless it starts a sentence.
Summary of How to Say On Thursday in French
Here is a brief summary of the different ways to say on Thursday in French, depending on the situation:
- Le jeudi on Thursdays (habitual)
- Jeudi on Thursday (specific)
- Ce jeudi this Thursday
- Jeudi prochain next Thursday
- Jeudi dernier last Thursday
Knowing how to say on Thursday in French is a valuable part of mastering time-related vocabulary. Whether you’re setting appointments, describing your weekly routine, or talking about past events, jeudi and its variations will help you communicate with clarity and confidence. Remember to use le jeudi for habitual actions and just jeudi for specific instances. With consistent practice and exposure to the language, using these terms will become second nature.