You probably already know that the standard way to say “Thursday” in French is jeudi. So, why a whole article on nine different ways to say it? Well, language is all about context! Depending on the situation, whether you're talking about a specific Thursday, every Thursday, or using a common expression, the phrasing can change. Mastering these nuances will make your French sound more authentic and fluent. Ready to move beyond just jeudi? Let's explore the different ways you can talk about the fourth day of the week in French!

The standard 'Thursday' – Jeudi

The direct and universal word for 'Thursday' in French is jeudi. You'll encounter this word constantly when discussing schedules, making plans, or simply talking about the days of the week.

The pronunciation of jeudi is roughly juh-dee. The 'j' is a soft sound, similar to the 's' in 'measure'. The 'eu' sound is close to the 'u' in the English word 'burn' or 'fur'. It's a sound that doesn't have a perfect English equivalent, so listening to a native speaker is key.

Unlike in English, days of the week in French are considered common nouns and are not capitalized unless they begin a sentence. For example, you would write Jeudi, nous allons au marché, but Je travaille jeudi.

To talk about something happening on a specific, upcoming Thursday, you just use jeudi. However, to express a recurring action that happens every Thursday, you must use the definite article le, making it le jeudi.

• Specific: Je vois le médecin jeudi. (I'm seeing the doctor on Thursday.)
• Habitual: Le jeudi, je vais à mon cours de yoga. (On Thursdays, I go to my yoga class.)

The word jeudi has ancient roots, deriving from the Latin phrase Jovis dies, which means 'day of Jupiter'. Jupiter was the Roman king of the gods, associated with the sky and thunder. This etymological link connects French to a broader family of Romance languages.

💡 * On se voit jeudi soir ? (See you Thursday evening?)

• Le magasin ferme plus tôt le jeudi. (The store closes earlier on Thursdays.)
• Mon vol pour Paris est prévu pour jeudi prochain. (My flight to Paris is scheduled for next Thursday.)
• Jeudi est presque le week-end ! (Thursday is almost the weekend!)

Specifying 'this Thursday' – Ce jeudi

To specify 'this Thursday' in French, you use the straightforward phrase ce jeudi. The demonstrative adjective ce (this) points directly to the specific Thursday you are referring to within the immediate future.

Ce jeudi almost always refers to the Thursday of the current week. If you're speaking on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, ce jeudi is the one coming up in just a few days.

This is a key distinction from jeudi prochain (next Thursday). While ce jeudi is immediate, jeudi prochain refers to the Thursday of the following week. Using the correct phrase is crucial for clear scheduling.

For example, if today is Monday, March 4th, ce jeudi is Thursday, March 7th. In contrast, jeudi prochain would be Thursday, March 14th. The context of the current day firmly anchors the meaning of ce.

A simple rule is to use ce jeudi when you mean 'the Thursday that is part of the current Monday-to-Sunday block'. It emphasizes proximity and immediacy, making your plans clear.

💡 * On se retrouve au café ce jeudi ? (Are we meeting at the café this Thursday?)

• Je dois rendre mon devoir ce jeudi au plus tard. (I have to turn in my homework this Thursday at the latest.)
• Le film que je veux voir sort ce jeudi. (The movie I want to see comes out this Thursday.)
• Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce jeudi soir ? (What are you doing this Thursday evening?)

Referring to 'next Thursday' – Jeudi prochain

To talk about the upcoming Thursday, the most common and direct phrase in French is jeudi prochain. This literally translates to 'Thursday next' and is the standard way to refer to the next occurrence of a specific day.

The structure is simple and consistent for all days of the week. You state the day first, followed by the adjective prochain (next). For example, you would say lundi prochain for 'next Monday' or samedi prochain for 'next Saturday'.

Another very common phrase, especially in conversation, is jeudi en huit. This idiom literally means 'Thursday in eight (days)' and is used to mean 'a week from Thursday.' It helps to clarify that you don't mean the immediate upcoming Thursday, but the one in the following week.

Context is key. If you say jeudi prochain on a Monday, it refers to the Thursday of the same week. If you say it on a Saturday, it refers to the Thursday of the following week. Using jeudi en huit removes this ambiguity and always means the Thursday of the next week.

As a general rule: use [jour] prochain for the very next time that day occurs on the calendar. Use [jour] en huit to specify 'a week from that day' or the day in the following week.

💡 * On se voit jeudi prochain pour le déjeuner ? (Shall we see each other next Thursday for lunch?)

• La réunion est reportée à jeudi en huit. (The meeting is postponed to a week from Thursday.)
• Je dois rendre ce projet avant mardi prochain. (I have to turn in this project before next Tuesday.)
• Non, pas ce jeudi, le jeudi d'après, donc jeudi en huit. (No, not this Thursday, the one after, so a week from Thursday.)

Referring to 'last Thursday' – Jeudi dernier

To say 'last Thursday' in French, the most common and direct phrase is jeudi dernier. This literally translates to 'Thursday last'.

The structure is simple and consistent: [Day of the week] + dernier. Since all days of the week are grammatically masculine in French, you will always use the masculine form dernier.

The phrase jeudi dernier specifically refers to the most recent Thursday that has passed relative to the moment of speaking. It is the standard way to refer to a day from the immediately preceding week.

This useful formula can be applied to any day of the week. For example, 'last Monday' is lundi dernier, 'last Friday' is vendredi dernier, and 'last Sunday' is dimanche dernier.

💡 * Je suis allé au cinéma jeudi dernier.

• Nous avons eu une réunion importante mardi dernier.
• Qu'as-tu fait samedi dernier ?
• Elle a commencé son nouveau travail lundi dernier.

1. For a Recurring 'Thursday' – Le jeudi

In English, to describe an action that happens regularly on a certain day, we say 'on Thursdays' or 'every Thursday.' French has a simple and elegant way to express this same idea of recurrence.

To indicate a habitual action that occurs every week on a particular day, you use the definite article le before the day of the week. For example, 'on Thursdays' becomes le jeudi.

This is a crucial distinction. Using the day jeudi without the article 'le' refers to a single, specific instance, usually meaning 'this upcoming Thursday' or a particular Thursday being discussed. Le jeudi implies a repeated action.

This rule applies to all days of the week. For example, le samedi means 'on Saturdays,' and le lundi means 'on Mondays.' It's a consistent pattern for expressing weekly routines.

In short, to talk about weekly habits, always use le + [day of the week]. Omit the article when referring to a single, non-recurring day.

💡 * Le jeudi, je vais à la piscine. (On Thursdays, I go to the pool.)

• Le restaurant est fermé le lundi. (The restaurant is closed on Mondays.)
• On se voit jeudi pour le déjeuner ? (Are we seeing each other on Thursday for lunch?)
• Elle a son cours de piano le mercredi. (She has her piano lesson on Wednesdays.)

For 'every Thursday' – Tous les jeudis

To express the idea of something happening 'every Thursday' in French, the most common and direct phrase is tous les jeudis. This literally translates to 'all the Thursdays' and is the standard way to indicate a recurring weekly event on that specific day.

The structure for this expression is simple and consistent: tous les + [day of the week in plural]. A crucial point for learners is to remember to add an -s to the end of the day to make it plural, like jeudis, mardis, or samedis. This pluralization is what signifies the recurring nature of the action.

You might also see le jeudi used to mean 'on Thursdays.' While both le jeudi and tous les jeudis can describe a habitual action, tous les jeudis is more explicit and emphasizes every single Thursday without exception. Don't confuse this with the singular jeudi, which simply refers to a specific, often upcoming, Thursday.

This useful pattern applies to every day of the week. Simply swap out jeudis for any other day, making sure to keep it plural. For instance, 'every Monday' is tous les lundis, and 'every Saturday' is tous les samedis.

💡 * Je vais à la salle de sport tous les jeudis.

• La réunion de l'équipe a lieu tous les jeudis matin.
• Tous les jeudis, nous dînons en famille.
• Le marché ouvre tous les jeudis et samedis.

The 'fourth day' of the week – Le quatrième jour

The phrase le quatrième jour literally translates to 'the fourth day'. In France and many other countries, the week begins on Monday (lundi), making Thursday (jeudi) the fourth day. Understanding this is key to correctly interpreting dates and schedules.

This expression uses the ordinal number quatrième (fourth), which is derived from the cardinal number quatre (four). This is a common pattern in French: deux (two) becomes deuxième (second), and trois (three) becomes troisième (third). It helps specify a position in a sequence.

While people typically say jeudi in everyday conversation, le quatrième jour is used for clarity, emphasis, or in more formal or literary contexts, such as describing the fourth day of a festival, a trip, or a specific project timeline.

💡 * Le jeudi est le quatrième jour de la semaine. (Thursday is the fourth day of the week.)

• Notre conférence se terminera le quatrième jour. (Our conference will end on the fourth day.)
• C'est le quatrième jour du mois de mai. (It is the fourth day of the month of May.)

The Day of 'Ascension' – Le jeudi de l'Ascension

Le jeudi de l'Ascension literally translates to 'Ascension Thursday'. It is a major Christian feast day and a public holiday (un jour férié) in France and many other countries.

The term l'Ascension refers to the biblical event where Jesus Christ is believed to have ascended into heaven. This event is observed by Christians worldwide.

This holiday always falls on a Thursday, exactly 40 days after Easter Sunday (Pâques). Because its date is tied to Easter, it is a movable feast day, meaning its date changes each year.

Since it's a public holiday on a Thursday, many French people take the following Friday off work to create a four-day weekend. This common practice is called faire le pont, which literally means 'to make the bridge'.

💡 * Le jeudi de l'Ascension est un jour férié en France.

• Beaucoup de gens font le pont pour le week-end de l'Ascension.
• Que faites-vous pour le jeudi de l'Ascension cette année ?
• Les magasins seront-ils ouverts le jour de l'Ascension ?

4. Thursday: The Day of Jupiter (Jeudi)

The French word for Thursday is jeudi. Like many other days of the week in Romance languages, its name is a direct inheritance from Roman culture, which named the days after their gods and the classical planets.

The origin of jeudi comes from the Latin phrase dies Jovis, which translates to “day of Jupiter.” In Roman mythology, Jupiter (equivalent to the Greek god Zeus) was the king of the gods, ruling over the sky and thunder. This day was dedicated to him.

The linguistic evolution from Latin to modern French is quite clear here. The Latin word Jovis (the genitive case of Jupiter) transformed into Jeu, and dies (day) became di. Combining them gives us jeudi, a direct echo of its ancient Roman name.

This connection to Jupiter is not unique to French. You can see the same root in other Romance languages, such as Spanish (jueves) and Italian (giovedì), all of which mean “Jupiter’s day.” This shared heritage highlights the widespread influence of the Roman Empire on modern European languages.

💡 * Je vais au marché tous les jeudis matin.

• La réunion est prévue pour jeudi prochain.
• Qu'est-ce que tu as fait jeudi dernier ?
• Le film que je veux voir sort ce jeudi.

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

So, are there other ways to say 'Thursday' in French?

Unlike words with many synonyms, the names for the days of the week in French are quite fixed. The single, universal word for 'Thursday' is jeudi. However, the simplicity of the word opens the door to a variety of cultural expressions and contexts that give it more meaning.

You can expand your vocabulary by searching for phrases like 'expressions avec jeudi'. This will help you discover how the day is integrated into French culture, from its historical connection to the Roman god Jupiter to modern-day events.

To truly master the word, practice using it in context. Try to plan your schedule for the week in French. Notice the difference between 'Jeudi, je vais au cinéma' (This Thursday, I'm going to the movies) and 'Le jeudi, je vais au sport' (On Thursdays, I go to sports).

Pay attention to how days of the week are used when you listen to French music, watch French TV shows, or read news articles. This will help you internalize the natural rhythm and usage of jeudi and the other days.

If you want to explore related terms or see more examples, reliable online dictionaries like WordReference or Larousse are excellent resources. Look up jeudi to find compound phrases and common uses.

I hope this article clarified things for you. While there's only one word for 'Thursday', French has a wonderful idiom for something that will never happen: 'à la semaine des quatre jeudis' (in the week of four Thursdays). It’s a perfect example of how even the most basic words can unlock a deeper layer of the language.