Capitalizing the Day
Mistake: “Writing 'Hoy es Lunes' with a capital L.”
Correction: Hoy es lunes
How to say
Today is Monday
in SpanishHoy es lunes
oy ehs LOO-nehs
The most standard, direct way to state the day. It works in every Spanish-speaking country and in any social situation.
💬Other Ways to Say It
Es lunes
★★★★★
ehs LOO-nehs
neutral🌍
Simply 'It's Monday.' This is slightly shorter and very common when the context implies you are talking about today.
When to use: Use when someone asks 'What day is it?' or when you wake up and realize the day.
Estamos a lunes
★★★★☆
ehs-TAH-mohs ah LOO-nehs
neutral🇪🇸 🌍
Literally 'We are at Monday.' This construction is used to express the date or position in the week rather than just the name of the day.
When to use: Very common in Spain when checking a calendar or confirming the date.
Ya es lunes
★★★★☆
yah ehs LOO-nehs
casual🌍
Translates to 'It's already Monday.' Usually implies a feeling about the day arriving—often surprise that the weekend is over.
When to use: Use this to complain that the weekend went by too fast.
Hoy estamos a lunes
★★★☆☆
oy ehs-TAH-mohs ah LOO-nehs
neutral🇪🇸 🇲🇽
A combination of 'Today' and 'We are at.' It emphasizes the specific date.
When to use: Use when you need to be very specific about the date, often in administrative contexts.
🔑Key Words
Key Words to learn:
📊Quick Comparison
While 'Hoy es lunes' is standard, you will hear these variations frequently depending on the country.
| Phrase | Literal Meaning | Best For | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoy es lunes | Today is Monday | General statements | Universal |
| Estamos a lunes | We are at Monday | Discussing the date/calendar | Spain / Parts of LatAm |
| Ya es lunes | It is already Monday | Complaining about the weekend ending | Universal |
📈Difficulty Level
Overall Difficulty:beginnerMaster in 5 minutes
Pronunciation1/5
Very straightforward. No tricky rolling Rs or guttural sounds.
Grammar1/5
Simple Subject + Verb + Noun structure. The only trick is remembering not to capitalize.
Cultural Nuance1/5
Very standard factual statement with little room for cultural misunderstanding.
Key Challenges:
- Remembering lowercase spelling
- Using 'el' instead of 'on' for future Mondays
💡Examples in Action
Casual conversation about weekly routinesA1
Hoy es lunes, así que tengo que ir a trabajar.
Today is Monday, so I have to go to work.
Complaining to a friend on Monday morningA2
¿En serio ya es lunes? El fin de semana pasó volando.
Is it seriously Monday already? The weekend flew by.
Asking a stranger or colleague for clarificationA1
Disculpe, ¿hoy es lunes o martes?
Excuse me, is today Monday or Tuesday?
Planning logistics or errandsB1
Si hoy es lunes, la tienda debe estar cerrada.
If today is Monday, the store must be closed.
🌍Cultural Context
The Lowercase Rule
In English, we always capitalize days of the week (Monday). In Spanish, you generally do NOT capitalize them unless they are the very first word of a sentence. So, you would write 'Hoy es lunes', not 'Hoy es Lunes'.
The Start of the Week
While many US calendars start on Sunday, in most Spanish-speaking countries, the calendar week officially starts on Monday (lunes). This makes Monday feel like the true beginning of the weekly cycle.
San Lunes (Saint Monday)
There is a humorous cultural concept in some Latin American countries called 'San Lunes.' Historically, it referred to workers taking Monday off to recover from the weekend's festivities, treating it as an unofficial saint's day.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong 'To Be'
Mistake: “Saying 'Hoy está lunes'.”
Correction: Hoy es lunes
Adding Unnecessary Prepositions
Mistake: “Saying 'Hoy es en lunes' (Today is on Monday).”
Correction: Hoy es lunes
💡Pro Tips
Masculine Articles
Days of the week in Spanish are all masculine. If you want to say 'on Monday' (referring to when something happens), you say 'el lunes'. For example: 'Te veo el lunes' (I'll see you on Monday).
Pluralizing Monday
The word 'lunes' ends in an 's', so the singular and plural forms look the same. 'El lunes' means 'Monday' (singular), and 'Los lunes' means 'Mondays' (plural/recurring).
🗺️Regional Variations
🇪🇸
Spain
Preferred:Estamos a lunes
Pronunciation:The 's' is clearly pronounced, sometimes with a slight 'th' lisp in parts of Spain, but usually standard.
Alternatives:
Hoy es lunes
Spaniards frequently use the 'Estamos a...' structure for dates and days, viewing themselves as moving through the calendar together.
⚠️ Note: None
🌍
Latin America (General)
Preferred:Hoy es lunes
Pronunciation:Standard pronunciation.
Alternatives:
Es lunes
The direct 'Hoy es...' phrasing is by far the most common across Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina.
⚠️ Note: None
💬What Comes Next?
Someone tells you today is Monday
They say:
Hoy es lunes.
Today is Monday.
→
You respond:
¡Qué rápido pasó el fin de semana!
The weekend went by so fast!
Asking about plans for the day
They say:
¿Qué vas a hacer hoy?
What are you going to do today?
→
You respond:
Como es lunes, tengo que trabajar.
Since it's Monday, I have to work.
🧠Memory Tricks
Lunar Monday
The word 'lunes' comes from 'luna' (moon), just like 'Monday' comes from 'Moon day'. Think of the Moon to remember Lunes.
🔄How It Differs from English
The biggest difference is in writing: Spanish does not capitalize days of the week. Grammatically, Spanish uses the verb 'ser' (to be) directly, similar to English, but avoids prepositions like 'on' when simply stating the day.
False Friends & Common Confusions:
"On Monday"
Why it''s different: English uses the preposition 'on', but Spanish uses the masculine article 'el'.
Use instead: El lunes (not 'en lunes')
🎬In Popular Culture
song2015
Hoy es domingo
by Diego Torres
"Hoy es domingo..."
While the song is about Sunday, the structure 'Hoy es [day]' is identical and very common in lyrics to set a scene.
Why it matters: Helps memorize the sentence structure for stating the day.
🎯Your Learning Path
➡️ Learn Next:
How to say days of the week in Spanish
Now that you know Monday, learn the rest of the week!
How to say what day is it
Learn how to ask the question that leads to this answer.
How to say tomorrow is Tuesday
Expand your timeline to talk about the future.
✏️Test Your Knowledge
Quick Quiz: Today is Monday
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is the correct way to write 'Today is Monday' in Spanish?
Use phrases naturally, not mechanically
Knowing a phrase is one thing — using it at the right moment is another. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see phrases in the contexts where they actually belong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'lunes' written in lowercase?
Spanish grammar rules differ from English here. Days of the week, months, and languages are not proper nouns in Spanish, so they are written in lowercase unless they appear at the start of a sentence.
Can I say 'Hoy es en lunes'?
No. In English we say 'on Monday', but in Spanish, you never use the preposition 'en' with days of the week. You simply say 'Hoy es lunes' (Today is Monday) or 'Te veo el lunes' (I'll see you the Monday).
Is 'lunes' singular or plural?
It can be both! Because it ends in an 's', the word doesn't change. 'El lunes' is singular (Monday), and 'Los lunes' is plural (Mondays).
How do I pronounce 'lunes'?
It is pronounced 'LOO-nehs'. Make sure the 'u' sounds like the 'oo' in 'moon', and pronounce the 'e' like the 'e' in 'met'.
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