Ah, Sunday... the day of rest, brunch, and maybe a little bit of dread for the coming Monday. The most common way to say “Sunday” in French is dimanche. But the fun doesn't stop there!

As you get more comfortable with French, you'll want to talk about things you do 'on Sundays', or what you're doing 'next Sunday'. The French language has specific and nuanced ways to express these ideas.

Let's explore nine essential ways to say and use “Sunday” in French to make your conversations sound more natural and precise!

The standard 'Sunday' – dimanche

The most common and direct way to say 'Sunday' in French is dimanche. It's a fundamental vocabulary word you'll use constantly, whether making plans or describing your week.

Like many French words, dimanche has Latin roots. It comes from the Latin phrase dies Dominicus, which translates to 'the Lord's day', reflecting the day's traditional significance in Christian culture.

Dimanche is a masculine noun, so it is always used with masculine articles like le or un. For example, you would say le dimanche (the Sunday) or un dimanche (a Sunday).

A key rule to remember involves the definite article le. When you say le dimanche, it implies a recurring action that happens every Sunday. For instance, Le dimanche, je vais au marché means 'On Sundays, I go to the market.'

To talk about a specific Sunday (this coming Sunday or a particular Sunday), you typically use dimanche without an article. For example, Je te verrai dimanche means 'I will see you on Sunday'. You can also use ce dimanche for 'this Sunday'.

Unlike in English, the days of the week in French are not capitalized unless they are at the very beginning of a sentence. So, you will always write dimanche with a lowercase 'd'.

A very common and friendly expression you'll hear is Bon dimanche !, which means 'Have a good Sunday!'. Other useful phrases are dimanche prochain (next Sunday) and dimanche dernier (last Sunday).

💡 * Le dimanche, nous faisons la grasse matinée.

• Qu'est-ce que tu as fait dimanche dernier ?
• Rendez-vous dimanche à 10 heures devant le cinéma.
• C'était un dimanche pluvieux, parfait pour rester à la maison.
• Bon dimanche à tous !

‘On Sundays’ (for recurring events) – le dimanche

‘On Sundays’ (for recurring events) – le dimanche

In French, to express an action that happens regularly on a specific day of the week, you use the definite article le followed by the singular form of the day. For example, le dimanche means 'on Sundays' or 'every Sunday'.

This is a crucial distinction. Using the day without the article, like just dimanche, refers to a single, specific Sunday (usually the upcoming one). Using le dimanche transforms the meaning from a single instance to a recurring habit.

English speakers often want to make the day plural (e.g., les dimanches). While this is grammatically possible, it's far less common and can sound unnatural. The standard way to express 'on Sundays' is simply le dimanche.

This rule isn't just for Sundays! It applies to every day of the week. Le lundi means 'on Mondays,' le mardi means 'on Tuesdays,' le samedi means 'on Saturdays,' and so on.

The key takeaway is that the small word le is what signals a habit or a repeated action. Remember: for a recurring event, use le + [day of the week].

💡 * Le dimanche, je rends visite à mes grands-parents. (On Sundays, I visit my grandparents.)

• Le restaurant est fermé le lundi. (The restaurant is closed on Mondays.)
• Elle va à son cours de yoga le jeudi soir. (She goes to her yoga class on Thursday evenings.)
• Nous faisons les courses le samedi matin. (We do the grocery shopping on Saturday mornings.)

1. ‘This coming Sunday’ – ce dimanche

To specify 'this coming Sunday' in French, the most common and clear expression is ce dimanche. It directly translates to 'this Sunday'.

The demonstrative adjective ce is crucial here. It pins the day of the week to the immediate, upcoming instance. When you say ce dimanche, you are unambiguously referring to the Sunday of the current or immediately following week.

Using just dimanche can be ambiguous. For instance, On se voit dimanche ('We'll see each other Sunday') is common, but it relies heavily on context. Adding ce removes any doubt that you mean the next Sunday on the calendar, not a general Sunday or a past one.

This useful pattern applies to all days of the week. You can say ce lundi for 'this coming Monday,' ce mardi for 'this coming Tuesday,' ce samedi for 'this coming Saturday,' and so on. It's a simple rule for talking about plans for the week ahead.

You might also hear dimanche prochain ('next Sunday'). Often, ce dimanche and dimanche prochain are interchangeable. However, ce dimanche feels a bit more immediate, referring to the Sunday within the next seven days, while dimanche prochain can sometimes be used to clarify you mean the Sunday of the following week, especially if it's already late in the current week.

💡 * Que fais-tu ce dimanche ? (What are you doing this Sunday?)

• Nous allons déjeuner chez mes parents ce dimanche. (We are going to have lunch at my parents' house this Sunday.)
• Le musée est ouvert ce dimanche. (The museum is open this Sunday.)
• J'ai un rendez-vous important ce vendredi. (I have an important meeting this Friday.)

1. 'Last Sunday' – dimanche dernier

To say 'last Sunday' in French, the direct and most common phrase is dimanche dernier.

The rule is to place the adjective dernier (meaning 'last') after the day of the week. This is a fixed structure in French for referring to the most recent past day.

In French, all days of the week are masculine nouns (e.g., le dimanche, le lundi). Consequently, you must always use the masculine form of the adjective, dernier. The feminine form, dernière, is incorrect in this context.

This pattern can be applied to any day of the week. For example, 'last Monday' is lundi dernier, 'last Friday' is vendredi dernier, and so on. It's a versatile and essential structure for talking about the recent past.

💡 * Je suis allé au marché dimanche dernier. (I went to the market last Sunday.)

• Qu'as-tu fait mardi dernier ? (What did you do last Tuesday?)
• Nous avons dîné au restaurant samedi dernier. (We had dinner at the restaurant last Saturday.)
• Elle a commencé son nouveau cours lundi dernier. (She started her new class last Monday.)

1. ‘Next Sunday’ – dimanche prochain

To express the idea of ‘next Sunday’—referring to the Sunday of the following week—the French phrase is dimanche prochain.

The structure is simple and consistent for all days of the week: [Day of the Week] + prochain. The adjective prochain (next) follows the noun it modifies.

A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between this coming Sunday and next Sunday. In French, saying just dimanche refers to the closest, upcoming Sunday. Dimanche prochain specifically refers to the Sunday of the following week.

Be careful not to confuse dimanche prochain with le dimanche. Using the definite article le signifies a recurring or habitual action, meaning 'on Sundays' or 'every Sunday'. For example, Je vais à l'église le dimanche means 'I go to church on Sundays.'

To summarize: Use dimanche for the upcoming Sunday within the current 7-day cycle. Use dimanche prochain for the Sunday of the week after. Use le dimanche for actions that happen every Sunday.

💡 * On se voit dimanche prochain pour le déjeuner. (See you next Sunday for lunch.)

• Le festival commence samedi prochain, pas ce samedi. (The festival starts next Saturday, not this Saturday.)
• J'ai un examen lundi prochain. (I have an exam next Monday.)
• Que fais-tu dimanche prochain ? (What are you doing next Sunday?)

The formal or religious ‘Sunday’ – le jour du Seigneur

Literally translating to 'the day of the Lord,' le jour du Seigneur is a formal and primarily religious term for Sunday. It directly references the Christian tradition of Sunday being a day of worship and rest dedicated to God, distinguishing it from the standard, secular term for the day.

You will most commonly encounter this phrase in religious contexts, such as in church sermons, biblical texts, or discussions about Christian traditions. It can also appear in literature or formal speech to lend a poetic or solemn tone, emphasizing its traditional role as a day of rest and reflection.

While le jour du Seigneur refers to Sunday, it is not an everyday synonym for dimanche. Dimanche is the standard, neutral word used in all daily conversations. Using le jour du Seigneur to talk about your weekend plans would sound unusually formal, pious, or archaic.

For language learners, it's important to recognize le jour du Seigneur to understand its cultural and religious significance. However, for all practical and conversational purposes, you should always use dimanche. Think of le jour du Seigneur as you would think of 'the Sabbath' in English—specific and not for casual use.

💡 * L'église est toujours pleine le jour du Seigneur.

• Autrefois, tout était fermé le jour du Seigneur.
• Il est important de se reposer le jour du Seigneur.
• Le prêtre a rappelé la signification du jour du Seigneur.

The ‘Sunday driver’ (amateur) – un conducteur du dimanche

The French expression un conducteur du dimanche literally translates to “a Sunday driver.” Just like in English, it’s a pejorative term used to describe someone who is a slow, overly cautious, or unskilled driver, implying they only drive infrequently, such as on a Sunday.

This is an informal and critical expression you might hear from an impatient driver complaining about another car on the road. It implies that the person's lack of regular practice makes them a hazard or an annoyance to other, more experienced drivers.

The term changes based on gender. For a male driver, you use un conducteur du dimanche. For a female driver, the correct term is une conductrice du dimanche.

💡 * Regarde-moi ce conducteur du dimanche, il roule à 30 km/h sur une route nationale ! (Look at this Sunday driver, he's going 30 km/h on a main road!)

• J'étais coincé derrière une conductrice du dimanche qui ne savait pas faire son créneau. (I was stuck behind a Sunday driver who couldn't parallel park.)
• Accélère un peu, ne fais pas ton conducteur du dimanche ! (Speed up a bit, don't be such a Sunday driver!)

To wear your ‘Sunday best’ – s'endimancher

To wear your ‘Sunday best’ – s'endimancher

The verb s'endimancher literally means 'to put on one's Sunday clothes.' It's derived directly from the French word for Sunday, dimanche. This pronominal verb describes the action of dressing up smartly, often for a special occasion, much like putting on your 'Sunday best'.

This verb often carries a slightly old-fashioned or even mocking connotation. You might use it to point out that someone is particularly dressed up, perhaps even a bit overdressed for the context. It implies a conscious effort to look elegant and distinguished.

As a pronominal verb, s'endimancher is always conjugated with a reflexive pronoun that agrees with the subject. For example, in the passé composé, you would say je me suis endimanché(e) (I got dressed up) or ils se sont endimanchés (they got dressed up).

💡 * Pourquoi t'es-tu endimanché comme ça pour un simple dîner ? (Why did you get all dressed up like that for a simple dinner?)

• Les enfants s'étaient endimanchés pour la photo de famille. (The children had put on their Sunday best for the family photo.)
• Il n'aime pas s'endimancher, il préfère les vêtements décontractés. (He doesn't like to dress up; he prefers casual clothes.)

1. What is ‘Le Blues du Dimanche Soir’?

The French phrase le blues du dimanche soir literally translates to 'the Sunday evening blues.' It perfectly captures the specific feeling of melancholy, anxiety, or dread that often arises as the weekend comes to a close and the upcoming work or school week looms.

This feeling is universally understood as the emotional dip that occurs when transitioning from the freedom of the weekend to the responsibilities of Monday. It's that familiar sinking feeling when you realize your leisure time is over for another five days, a concept so common in France that it has its own dedicated expression.

In France, saying you have le blues du dimanche soir is a highly relatable complaint. It’s a shared cultural experience, directly equivalent to the 'Sunday scaries' in English. People use it in casual conversation to express their end-of-weekend sadness.

💡 * Chaque dimanche vers 18h, je commence à sentir le blues du dimanche soir. (Every Sunday around 6 PM, I start to feel the Sunday evening blues.)

• Pour combattre le blues du dimanche soir, j'aime regarder un bon film. (To fight the Sunday evening blues, I like to watch a good movie.)
• Tu as l'air triste. C'est le blues du dimanche soir ? (You seem sad. Is it the Sunday blues?)
• Mon seul objectif pour ce soir est d'éviter le blues du dimanche soir. (My only goal for tonight is to avoid the Sunday evening blues.)

Are there other ways to say 'Sunday' in French?

Are there other ways to say “Sunday” in French?

Our guide has covered the most important word for “Sunday” in French: dimanche. However, the language is full of expressions and cultural phrases that revolve around this special day of the week.

To discover more, you can do an online search for terms like “expressions avec dimanche” or “activités du dimanche en France”. This will give you insight into how the word is woven into daily life and culture.

Pay close attention to the use of articles. Remember that “le dimanche” means “on Sundays” (a recurring action), while simply “dimanche” refers to a specific Sunday. Mastering this small detail will make your French sound much more natural.

As you watch French films or listen to French music, keep an ear out for how people talk about their weekends. You'll likely hear about “le marché du dimanche” (the Sunday market) or “le repas dominical” (the Sunday family meal), which are key parts of French culture.

If you want to see dimanche used in various contexts, websites like Reverso Context or Linguee are excellent resources. They provide real-world examples from a huge database of translated texts.

I hope this article helps you talk about Sundays with confidence. Let’s end with a popular French proverb: “Ce n'est pas tous les jours dimanche.” It literally translates to “It’s not Sunday every day,” reminding us that good times and moments of rest are to be cherished.