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Abdulkhakimova Mohlaroy Abduqosim kizi
Bachelor degree student, Fergana State University
THE ORIGINS BEHIND ENGLISH WEEKDAY NAMES
Annotation:
This article explores the fascinating history and etymology of the names of the days
of the week in English. It highlights how these names are derived from a mix of celestial bodies
and mythological figures, reflecting the influence of various cultures, including Ancient Greek,
Latin, and Germanic traditions.
Key words:
mythological figures, Germanic and Norse mythology, Old English, Sun, Moon,
Ares, Hermes, Zeus, Aphrodite, and Cronos.
Introduction
In the English language, the days of the week are named after celestial bodies and mythological
figures from history. A mishmash of cultures and traditions has influenced the naming of the
days, and for those studying the English language, they provide a fascinating insight into the way
the language is formed.
English draws upon Ancient Greek, Latin, and Germanic languages, and these influences can all
be seen in the names of the days of the week. We use them daily without realizing just how
much they tell us about our language and history. They also highlight the similarities between
English and many other European languages.
Let’s take a closer look at the seven days of the week and how they came to be named.
The original order of the days, between the 1st and 3rd centuries, was Sun, Moon, Ares, Hermes,
Zeus, Aphrodite, and Cronos. These names were based on the heavenly bodies that presided over
the first daylight hour of each day, according to Hellenistic astrology. From Greece, the
planetary week names passed to the Romans, then from Latin to other languages of southern and
western Europe, and later to others influenced by them. Why did the Romans name the days of
the week after their gods associated with the planets? They believed there was a connection
between their gods and the changing appearance of the nighttime sky. The five planets visible to
the naked eye—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—along with the Sun and Moon,
formed the seven major astronomical bodies. Thus, it was natural to use these seven names when
the seven-day week was adopted.
The Babylonians believed that humanity was intimately connected to the planets, with each
planet ruling an individual hour of the day and a specific day of the week (Coolman, 2014).
Accordingly, they structured their lives around a seven-day system aligned to the celestial bodies
they could observe. Sunday and Monday were ruled by the Sun and Moon, respectively, with the
remaining days governed by the planets.
The ancient Greeks, who rose to prominence around the 12th century BC, adopted the
Babylonian system of marking time. According to Lawrence A. Crowl (1995), they continued to
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS
ISSN: 3030-332X Impact factor: 8,293
Volume 10, issue 1, February 2025
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emphasize the Sun and Moon, naming two days of the week Hemera Heliou (Day of the Sun)
and Hemera Selenes (Day of the Moon). Instead of naming the other five days after planets, they
honored their gods: Ares, Hermes, Zeus, Aphrodite, and Cronus.
When the Roman Empire began to emerge in the 1st century BC, the Romans adopted the same
seven-day system, but they replaced the Greek gods with their own deities (Forberg, 1884). For
example, they named Tuesday Dies Martis after Mars, replacing the Greek god of war Ares.
Wednesday became Dies Mercurii, with Mercury taking the place of Hermes. Thursday became
Dies Jovis, named after Jove (Jupiter), the Roman equivalent of Zeus. Friday was named Dies
Veneris, after Venus, the Roman counterpart of Aphrodite. Saturday retained its connection to
Saturn, the father of Jupiter and god of agriculture. The Sun and Moon remained prominent, with
Sunday called Dies Solis and Monday Dies Lunae.
Later, the Germanic peoples adapted the Roman system by identifying Roman gods with their
own deities (Crowl, 1995). Sunday comes from Old English Sunnandæg, derived from the
Germanic interpretation of Dies Solis (Sun’s Day). Germanic and Norse mythology personify the
Sun as a goddess named Sunna or Sól. Similarly, Monday (Old English Mōnandæg) was named
after Máni, the Norse personification of the Moon and brother of Sól.
Tuesday (Old English Tiwesdæg) replaced Dies Martis with Tyr (Tiu or Tiw), the Norse god of
war and justice. Wednesday was named for Wodan (Odin), the god of war, poetry, and wisdom.
The Romans had associated Wodan with Mercury, as both were seen as guides of souls after
death. Thursday honors Thor, the god of thunder and protector of humanity, taking the place of
Jupiter. Friday evolved from Frigadæg, named after Freya (or Frigg), goddess of love, beauty,
and domestic life, replacing Venus.
As for Saturday, Germanic and Norse traditions did not assign one of their gods to this day,
instead retaining the Roman name. The English word Saturday comes from the Anglo-Saxon
Sæturnesdæg (Saturn’s Day).
The naming of the days of the week reflects a blend of cultural, mythological, and linguistic
influences, linking us to our ancestors and the myths that have shaped human history. In English,
these names illustrate the interconnectedness of languages and the enduring legacy of ancient
civilizations.
REFERENCES:
1.Coolman, R. (2014). Origins of the days of the week. URL:
2.Crowl, L. A. (1995). The Seven-Day Week and the Meanings of the Names of the Days. URL:
https://www.crowl.org/Lawrence/time/days.html
3.Forberg, F. K. (1884). Manual of classical Erotology (De figuris Veneris). URL:
4.https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_yLgo
5.https://pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_names_days.php
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS
ISSN: 3030-332X Impact factor: 8,293
Volume 10, issue 1, February 2025
https://wordlyknowledge.uz/index.php/IJSR
worldly knowledge
Index:
google scholar, research gate, research bib, zenodo, open aire.
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6.https://www.livescience.com/45432-days-of-the-week.html
7.https://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.dk/en/
8.Origins of the names of the days. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Mythica.
9.Thorpe, B. (1851). Northern mythology: comprising the principal popular traditions and
superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and The Netherlands.
