Days and Months
Classical weekdays are named for gods, and Church weekdays are counted.
How It Works
| Day | Classical | Church |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | dies Solis | dies Dominica |
| Monday | dies Lunae | feria secunda |
| Tuesday | dies Martis | feria tertia |
| Wednesday | dies Mercurii | feria quarta |
| Thursday | dies Iovis | feria quinta |
| Friday | dies Veneris | feria sexta |
| Saturday | dies Saturni | sabbatum |
The month names are adjectives that agree with mensis: Ianuarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Iulius, Augustus, September, October, November, December.
The Church count starts from Sunday. Sunday is the first day, so Monday is the second, feria secunda.
To say in a month, put both words in the ablative: mense Aprili. To say on a day, use the ablative of time: die Martis.
Examples (5)
- Dies Lunae est.
It is Monday.
Lunae is the genitive of Luna, the Moon.
- Die Martis Marcus Romam it.
On Tuesday Marcus goes to Rome.
Die is the ablative of time, and Martis is the genitive.
- Mense Aprili flores in horto sunt.
In April there are flowers in the garden.
Aprili agrees with mense, both in the ablative.
- Die Dominica ad ecclesiam venimus.
On Sunday we come to church.
Dies Dominica is the Church name of Sunday.
- Feria sexta ieiunamus.
On Friday we fast.
Feria sexta is the Church name of Friday, "the sixth day".
Common Mistakes
Using the name of the god in the nominative.
Dies Mars est.Dies Martis est.Dies Martis means the day of Mars, so Martis is the genitive.
Leaving a month name in the nominative.
Mense Aprilis flores in horto sunt.Mense Aprili flores in horto sunt.The month name agrees with mense, which is ablative, so it takes the ablative ending: Aprili.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Days and months use the genitive, the ablative of time and, in Church Latin, ordinal numbers, so those come first.
- First, Second, Third: primus, secundus, tertiusFirst, Second, Third
Know the ordinal numbers, because the Church counts the weekdays from Sunday: feria secunda is Monday.
Level 3 - At What Time: nocte, hieme
Know the ablative of time, because a day or a month is said in it: die Martis, mense Aprili.
Level 3
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Days and Months in Bubblegum
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