Ah, the weekend! Two glorious days of freedom. In French, you probably already know the most common way to say it: le week-end. But just like in English, the French have a few other ways to talk about this cherished time off. Whether you're planning a short trip, talking about your days off, or just dreaming of Saturday morning, knowing these variations will make your French sound much more natural. Ready to expand your vocabulary beyond the basics? Let's dive into 9 ways to say 'weekend' in French!

The standard 'weekend' (from English) – le week-end

The most common and standard way to say 'weekend' in French is, quite simply, le week-end. It's a direct borrowing from English that has been fully adopted into everyday French language.

Crucially, week-end is a masculine noun in French. Therefore, you must always use masculine articles and adjectives with it, such as le week-end (the weekend) or un bon week-end (a good weekend).

This term is used universally in all registers, from casual conversations with friends to formal business settings. It is the go-to term in France and much of the French-speaking world.

To talk about specific weekends, you'll rely on a few key phrases:

• ce week-end: this weekend
• le week-end dernier: last weekend
• le week-end prochain: next weekend

The plural form simply adds an 's', just like in English: les week-ends. For example, you might say, J'aime les longs week-ends de mai (I love the long weekends in May).

While le week-end is understood in Québec, the term la fin de semaine (literally 'the end of the week') is much more common in Canadian French. In France, la fin de semaine is sometimes used but can specifically refer to the end of the workweek, like Friday afternoon.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce week-end ? (What are you doing this weekend?)

• J'ai passé un excellent week-end à la campagne. (I had an excellent weekend in the countryside.)
• Bon week-end ! (Have a good weekend!)
• Nous partons en vacances le week-end prochain. (We are going on vacation next weekend.)
• Il travaille souvent les week-ends. (He often works on weekends.)

The 'official' French term – la fin de semaine

While the English loanword le week-end is extremely common in France, the official, traditional French term is la fin de semaine.

The phrase literally translates to “the end of the week” (la fin = the end; de la semaine = of the week). This literal meaning makes it very easy for learners to understand and remember.

You are far more likely to hear la fin de semaine used in everyday conversation in Québec and other parts of French-speaking Canada. Quebec French often favors traditional French vocabulary over English loanwords, and this is a prime example.

In Metropolitan France, la fin de semaine is considered more formal or literary. You might see it in written announcements, hear it on the news, or find it used by institutions like the Académie française that aim to preserve the purity of the French language.

In casual conversation in France, using le week-end will make you sound more like a local. However, knowing la fin de semaine is crucial for understanding formal communications and for speaking French in Canada. Essentially, both are correct, but their usage depends heavily on context and location.

💡 * Qu'est-ce que vous faites cette fin de semaine ? (What are you doing this weekend?)

• Je vous souhaite une excellente fin de semaine. (I wish you an excellent weekend.)
• Le magasin est fermé pendant la fin de semaine. (The store is closed during the weekend.)
• J'ai passé la fin de semaine à lire un livre. (I spent the weekend reading a book.)

The literal 'Saturday and Sunday' – le samedi et le dimanche

In French, when you want to talk about an action that happens regularly on a specific day of the week, like 'on Saturdays' or 'on Sundays,' the structure is different from English. Instead of making the day plural, you use the singular definite article le.

The fundamental rule is: le + [day of the week] = a habitual, recurring action. This is the standard way to express 'every Saturday' or 'on Sundays'.

Using le samedi means you are talking about a routine or habit, not a single, specific Saturday. It directly translates to 'on Saturdays' or 'every Saturday'.

Likewise, le dimanche means 'on Sundays' or 'every Sunday.' It is used for activities that you do regularly on that day.

It's essential to distinguish this from referring to a specific day. For instance, Je vais au marché **le samedi** means 'I go to the market on Saturdays (as a habit).' However, Je vais au marché **samedi** means 'I am going to the market this coming Saturday.'

💡 * Le dimanche, nous allons souvent à la campagne.

• Je fais mes courses le samedi matin.
• Les magasins sont fermés le dimanche en France.
• Il joue au football avec ses amis le samedi.

The 'long weekend' – le week-end prolongé

In French, the direct and most common way to say 'long weekend' is le week-end prolongé.

The term literally means an 'extended' or 'prolonged' weekend. The word prolongé comes from the verb prolonger, which means 'to extend' or 'to lengthen'.

This phrase is used whenever a public holiday falls adjacent to a weekend (on a Friday or Monday), creating a three-day break from work or school.

A very common related concept is faire le pont (literally 'to make the bridge'). This refers to taking an extra day off to bridge the gap between a public holiday (like a Thursday) and the weekend, thus creating a four-day week-end prolongé.

💡 * On part en Bretagne pour le week-end prolongé. (We're going to Brittany for the long weekend.)

• J'attends avec impatience le prochain week-end prolongé en mai. (I'm looking forward to the next long weekend in May.)
• Qu'est-ce que vous faites pendant ce week-end prolongé ? (What are you doing during this long weekend?)
• Comme le jour férié est un mardi, beaucoup de gens font le pont. (Since the public holiday is on a Tuesday, a lot of people are taking the Monday off.)

The 'bridging the gap' for an extra long weekend – faire le pont

The French expression faire le pont literally translates to “to make the bridge.” While this might conjure images of civil engineering, its common usage is entirely different and points to a beloved French cultural practice.

In practice, faire le pont means taking an extra day off work or school to connect a public holiday to the weekend. This “bridges” the single working day, creating a much-appreciated four-day weekend.

This expression is used specifically when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday. If the holiday is on a Thursday, employees will “make the bridge” by taking Friday off. If it’s on a Tuesday, they take Monday off.

This isn't just an occasional perk; it's a widespread cultural phenomenon in France. Many businesses and schools plan for and even officially close for le pont, particularly during the month of May, which is famous for its numerous public holidays.

To use it in a sentence, you simply conjugate the verb faire (to do/make) according to the subject. For example, you would say Je fais le pont (I'm taking a long weekend) or Nous allons faire le pont (We are going to take a long weekend).

💡 * Le 1er mai tombe un jeudi, alors beaucoup de gens vont faire le pont.

• Je ne serai pas au bureau lundi, je fais le pont.
• Est-ce que ton entreprise fait le pont pour l'Ascension ?
• On a de la chance, on a un week-end de quatre jours parce qu'on fait le pont !

The 'days off' – les jours de congé

To talk about 'days off' in French, the most common and versatile phrase you'll encounter is les jours de congé. This is the standard term for any time you are not required to be at work.

Les jours de congé literally translates to 'days of leave.' The key word, congé, refers to any approved absence from work. This makes it a broad term that can cover paid vacation days, personal days, or even specific types of leave like sick leave (congé maladie) or maternity leave (congé maternité).

This phrase is used in both professional and casual settings. You would use it to say you're taking time off, like Je prends un jour de congé demain (I'm taking a day off tomorrow). It is distinct from les vacances, which implies a longer holiday period, and un jour férié, which is a public holiday when most businesses are closed by law.

Several common expressions use this term. To 'take a day off,' the verb to use is poser, as in Il a posé un jour de congé (He took a day off). If someone is currently on leave, you can say elle est en congé (she is on leave). Understanding these variations is key to sounding natural.

💡 * Combien de jours de congé as-tu par an ? (How many days off do you have per year?)

• Je vais poser un jour de congé vendredi pour avoir un long week-end. (I'm going to take Friday off to have a long weekend.)
• Mon patron a approuvé mes jours de congé pour le mois prochain. (My boss approved my days off for next month.)
• Elle est en congé aujourd'hui, elle revient demain. (She is off today, she'll be back tomorrow.)

The formal 'weekly rest' – le repos hebdomadaire

The term le repos hebdomadaire is the formal and legal French phrase for "weekly rest." While it translates directly, its usage is much more specific than simply talking about a day off.

You will primarily encounter le repos hebdomadaire in official contexts related to French labor law (le Code du travail), employment contracts, and human resources communications. It refers to the legally mandated period of rest an employee must receive each week. In casual conversation, you would use le week-end or mon jour de congé (my day off).

By law, the repos hebdomadaire in France must be a minimum of 24 consecutive hours, plus the daily minimum rest of 11 hours, totaling 35 consecutive hours per week. While often on a Sunday, the specific day can vary depending on the industry and company agreements.

💡 *Tout salarié a droit à un repos hebdomadaire d'au moins 24 heures consécutives. (Every employee is entitled to a weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours.)
*Le repos hebdomadaire est généralement accordé le dimanche. (The weekly rest is generally granted on Sunday.)
*Mon employeur a déplacé mon repos hebdomadaire au mardi ce mois-ci. (My employer moved my weekly day of rest to Tuesday this month.)

The poetic 'warrior's rest' – le repos du guerrier

The poetic 'warrior's rest' – le repos du guerrier. This evocative French expression literally translates to 'the rest of the warrior.'

In a general sense, le repos du guerrier refers to a well-deserved period of rest and relaxation following a particularly strenuous or difficult task. It conjures up the image of a soldier resting after a fierce battle, highlighting the intensity of the preceding effort.

Crucially, this phrase is most famously and widely used as a euphemism for the sleep or relaxation that follows lovemaking. This meaning was popularized by Christiane Rochefort's 1958 novel of the same name, Le Repos du guerrier, and its subsequent film adaptation.

Because of its strong romantic connotation, using the phrase for non-intimate situations (like after finishing a major work project or an intense workout) often carries a humorous, ironic, or slightly dramatic tone. Be mindful of the context to avoid misunderstandings.

💡 * Après avoir couru un marathon, il s'est accordé un repos du guerrier bien mérité. (After running a marathon, he allowed himself a well-deserved warrior's rest.)

• Chut, ne le réveille pas, c'est le repos du guerrier. (Shh, don't wake him up, it's the warrior's rest.)
• Après une semaine d'examens, je vais enfin pouvoir profiter du repos du guerrier. (After a week of exams, I will finally be able to enjoy the warrior's rest.)

Understanding 'La Grasse Matinée': The Art of the Sleep-In

The French have a wonderful expression for the joy of sleeping in late: la grasse matinée. This phrase directly translates to having a 'sleep-in' or a 'lie-in,' and it perfectly captures the feeling of a lazy morning without an alarm clock.

Literally, grasse matinée means 'fat morning.' While this might sound odd, think of it as a morning that is 'rich' or 'full' of extra sleep and relaxation. It evokes a sense of indulgence and leisure, much like a rich meal.

To say that you are sleeping in, you use the verb faire (to do/make). The full expression is faire la grasse matinée. This is the most common way to talk about the action of having a lazy morning in bed.

La grasse matinée is almost exclusively used for weekends, holidays, or any day without obligations. It implies a deliberate choice to stay in bed longer than usual to rest and recharge, distinguishing it from simply oversleeping by accident.

💡 * Demain, c'est samedi, je vais faire la grasse matinée. (Tomorrow is Saturday, I'm going to sleep in.)

• J'adore faire la grasse matinée le dimanche. (I love to have a lie-in on Sundays.)
• Les enfants ont fait la grasse matinée jusqu'à 11 heures ce matin. (The children slept in until 11 o'clock this morning.)
• Profite de tes vacances pour faire la grasse matinée ! (Enjoy your vacation and sleep in!)

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

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

Our list features the most common ways to say “weekend” in French, but language is always evolving. While le week-end is universally understood, you might hear informal slang or expressions used among different social groups or in different French-speaking regions.

To discover local variations, you can do an online search for “comment dire weekend en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region, like Quebec or Senegal.

If you encounter a new synonym for le week-end, make sure to check its definition and observe how it's used in context. Pay attention to whether it’s formal, informal, or slang before you try using it.

Pay attention as you listen to French music, watch TV shows, or talk with native speakers. You'll naturally pick up on how people discuss their plans for the end of the week and discover the most current and authentic vocabulary.

And if you’re looking for related terms, like how to say “long weekend” or “day off,” a great dictionary like WordReference is an excellent place to start. Look up entries for week-end, congé, and jour férié.

I hope this article has been helpful on your French learning journey. We'll finish with a simple, friendly, and very common phrase you can use every Friday: Bon week-end ! (Have a good weekend!)