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A2 noun #700 am häufigsten 10 Min. Lesezeit

La semaine

Top 700

At the A1 level, learners focus on the most basic and essential uses of 'la semaine.' This includes learning the names of the seven days: lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, and dimanche. At this stage, you use 'la semaine' to talk about your basic routine, such as 'Je travaille la semaine' (I work during the week) or 'J'aime la semaine' (I like the week). You learn that the week in France starts on Monday. You also begin to use simple articles like 'la' (the) and 'une' (a). The goal is to be able to identify which day it is and state simple facts about your weekly activities. You might also learn 'le week-end' as the counterpart to 'la semaine.' Exercises at this level usually involve matching days to their order or filling in the blank with the word 'semaine' in simple sentences. It is important to remember the gender is feminine from day one. You will also learn the phrase 'Bonne semaine !' as a common greeting on Mondays.

At the A2 level, you move beyond just naming the days and start using 'la semaine' to plan and describe events in the near future or recent past. This is where you master 'la semaine prochaine' (next week) and 'la semaine dernière' (last week). You learn that adjectives like 'prochaine' and 'dernière' must agree with the feminine noun 'semaine.' You also start using prepositions more effectively, such as 'pendant la semaine' (during the week) or 'dans la semaine' (sometime this week). You can describe your 'emploi du temps' (schedule) and talk about frequency using 'par semaine' (per week), like 'Je fais du sport deux fois par semaine.' This level also introduces the concept of 'en semaine' to refer to weekdays specifically. You are expected to handle simple social interactions involving the week, such as making an appointment or telling a friend when you are free. You might also encounter the idiomatic 'huit jours' for the first time.

At the B1 level, 'la semaine' is used in more complex discussions about lifestyle, work-life balance, and habits. You can express opinions about your week, such as 'Ma semaine a été très stressante à cause du travail.' You start to use 'la semaine' in the context of relative time more fluently, using 'la semaine suivante' (the following week) or 'la semaine précédente' (the previous week) in storytelling. You also become familiar with the adjective 'hebdomadaire' (weekly) and can use it to describe magazines, meetings, or chores. Your understanding of 'en fin de semaine' vs 'le week-end' becomes more nuanced, especially if you are exposed to different Francophone dialects like Quebecois. You can participate in debates about the 'semaine de 35 heures' in France and understand the cultural implications of how the week is structured. You are also able to use 'la semaine' in hypothetical sentences using the conditional mood, such as 'Si j'avais une semaine de libre, je voyagerais.'

At the B2 level, you use 'la semaine' to discuss abstract concepts and societal structures. You can talk about the history of the week, the impact of the 'semaine de quatre jours' on education, and the sociological rhythm of modern life. You understand and can use more sophisticated idioms and expressions. Your vocabulary expands to include terms like 'jours ouvrables' (working days) and 'jours ouvrés.' You can read complex articles about labor laws or economic trends that use 'la semaine' as a unit of analysis. You are comfortable with the nuances of 'dans la semaine' vs 'au cours de la semaine.' You can also use 'la semaine' in more formal writing, such as business proposals or academic essays, where you might discuss 'la semaine de travail moyenne' or 'la gestion de la semaine.' Your pronunciation is expected to be more natural, handling the slight contraction of the word in rapid speech.

At the C1 level, 'la semaine' is a tool for nuanced expression and stylistic variation. You can use the word in literary or philosophical contexts, discussing the 'cycle de la semaine' as a metaphor for routine or the passage of time. You are fully aware of the regional variations in the use of 'semaine' across the Francophonie and can adapt your speech accordingly. You can understand complex wordplay or puns involving 'semaine' in media or literature. You are familiar with technical terms like 'septaine' or 'hebdomadaire' in specialized fields. Your ability to use 'la semaine' in complex grammatical structures, such as those involving the subjunctive or passive voice, is seamless. For example, 'Il est primordial que la semaine soit organisée de manière efficiente.' You can also analyze the cultural differences in how 'la semaine' is perceived between different societies in a sophisticated manner.

At the C2 level, you have a native-like mastery of 'la semaine.' You can use the word with all its historical, cultural, and idiomatic connotations. You can appreciate and produce high-level literature where 'la semaine' might be used as a central theme or a subtle motif. You are capable of discussing the etymology of the word from Latin 'septimana' and its evolution through Old French. You can navigate the most formal legal or administrative contexts where 'la semaine' is defined with extreme precision. You can also use the word in highly informal or slang contexts without error. Your understanding of the word is so deep that you can identify subtle shifts in meaning based on tone, context, or regional accent. You are effectively a master of the temporal vocabulary of the French language, using 'la semaine' as just one element in a complex and fluid system of time expression.

Jetzt üben Beispiele Notizen & Tipps

La semaine in 30 Sekunden

La semaine is a feminine noun meaning 'the week.'
It consists of seven days, starting on Monday in France.
Commonly used with 'prochaine' (next) and 'dernière' (last).
Essential for scheduling work, school, and social events.

The French term la semaine is a feminine noun that translates to 'the week' in English. It represents the standard seven-day cycle used to organize time, labor, and social life in the Francophone world. Derived from the Late Latin septimana, which literally means 'a group of seven,' the word carries deep historical and cultural weight. In France and most of Europe, the week is strictly viewed as starting on Monday (lundi) and ending on Sunday (dimanche). This is a crucial distinction for English speakers, particularly those from North America, where calendars often start the week on Sunday.

Temporal Structure: In French culture, the week is divided into two main parts: la semaine (the work week, Monday through Friday) and le week-end (the weekend). When someone says they work 'en semaine,' they are specifically referring to the five days of professional activity.

Je travaille dur toute la semaine pour profiter de mon repos le samedi.

Historically, the concept of the week in France was challenged during the French Revolution. In 1793, the Revolutionary government introduced the décade, a ten-day week designed to eliminate religious associations with the Sabbath. This system lasted until 1806, when Napoleon reinstated the traditional seven-day week. This history highlights how 'la semaine' is not just a measurement of time but a social contract.

Social Rhythm: The rhythm of the French week is heavily influenced by the 35-hour work week law. This makes 'la semaine' a frequent topic of conversation regarding work-life balance, 'RTT' (reduction of working time) days, and scheduling.

Quelle semaine chargée ! J'ai hâte d'être à vendredi soir.

You will hear this word in every aspect of life: from school schedules (l'emploi du temps de la semaine) to television programming (le programme de la semaine). It is the backbone of planning. Whether you are booking a hotel, scheduling a doctor's appointment, or planning a trip, 'la semaine' is the primary unit of measurement.

Idiomatic Usage: The word is also used in idioms like 'la semaine des quatre jeudis,' which refers to something that will never happen, similar to 'when pigs fly' in English.

Il finira son projet à la semaine des quatre jeudis !

On se voit dans la semaine pour en discuter ?

Understanding 'la semaine' is fundamental for any A2 learner because it moves beyond simple vocabulary into the realm of managing daily life and understanding the cultural pulse of France.

Using la semaine correctly requires an understanding of French prepositions and adjective placement. Unlike English, where we often say 'next week' without a preposition, French usually requires the definite article 'la' or a preposition like 'dans' or 'pendant.'

Future and Past Reference: To talk about the upcoming week, use 'la semaine prochaine.' For the previous week, use 'la semaine dernière.' Note that the adjective follows the noun.

Je partirai en vacances la semaine prochaine.

When describing an action that happens throughout the entire duration of the week, use 'toute la semaine.' This emphasizes the continuity of the action.

Il a plu toute la semaine en Bretagne.

In vs. During: 'Dans la semaine' means 'sometime during the week,' whereas 'pendant la semaine' usually means 'throughout the week' or 'during the workdays.'

Je t'appellerai dans la semaine pour confirmer.

Another common construction is 'en début de semaine' (at the beginning of the week) or 'en fin de semaine' (at the end of the week). Note that in France, 'fin de semaine' can sometimes mean Friday, whereas in Quebec, it is the standard term for the weekend.

Nous recevrons les résultats en fin de semaine.

Frequency: To express how many times something happens per week, use 'par semaine.' For example, 'deux fois par semaine' (twice a week).

Je vais à la gym trois fois par semaine.

In more complex sentences, 'la semaine' can be part of a compound noun, such as 'la semaine de travail' (the work week) or 'la semaine sainte' (Holy Week). Mastering these variations allows you to navigate French social and professional environments with ease. Whether you are discussing your past 'semaine de vacances' or your future 'semaine de examens,' the structure remains consistent. Always remember to match your articles and adjectives to the feminine gender of 'semaine.'

You will encounter la semaine in a vast array of real-world contexts in France. One of the most common places is in the workplace. During Monday morning meetings, colleagues will often discuss the 'planning de la semaine' or ask 'Comment s'annonce ta semaine ?' (How is your week looking?).

Media and News: French news outlets frequently use 'la semaine' to categorize events. You might see headlines like 'L'image de la semaine' (The image of the week) or 'Le récapitulatif de la semaine' (The weekly recap).

Voici les actualités marquantes de la semaine.

In the world of retail and commerce, 'la semaine' is used for promotions. You will see signs for 'La semaine du blanc' (a traditional sale on linens in January) or 'La semaine de la mode' (Fashion Week). These events are central to French commercial life.

C'est la semaine de la mode à Paris, la ville est bondée.

Education: In schools, the 'semaine de quatre jours' or 'semaine de quatre jours et demi' is a major topic of debate regarding the primary school schedule. Parents and teachers constantly discuss 'le rythme de la semaine.'

Les enfants n'ont pas d'école le mercredi cette semaine.

On the radio or in podcasts, you will hear presenters say 'Bonne semaine à tous !' (Have a good week, everyone!) at the start of a Monday broadcast. In social settings, friends might ask 'Tu fais quoi cette semaine ?' (What are you doing this week?) to plan a 'sortie' or a dinner.

Public Transport: The SNCF (French railways) often announces schedule changes 'pour la semaine à venir' due to maintenance or strikes. Checking the 'horaires de la semaine' is a daily habit for commuters.

Le trafic sera perturbé toute la semaine sur la ligne A.

Finally, in literature and film, 'la semaine' serves as a narrative device to show the passage of time. From the classic film 'La Semaine sainte' to modern novels, the week provides a relatable structure for storytelling. Whether in a formal announcement or a casual text message, 'la semaine' is an indispensable part of the French linguistic landscape.

One of the most frequent errors for English speakers is getting the gender of la semaine wrong. Because many time-related words in other languages vary in gender, learners often mistakenly say 'le semaine.' Remember: it is always feminine. This affects the articles (la, une, cette) and any accompanying adjectives (prochaine, dernière, entière).

Adjective Placement: A common mistake is saying 'prochaine semaine' instead of 'la semaine prochaine.' In French, when referring to the very next or very last week relative to now, the adjective must follow the noun and be preceded by the definite article.

Faux: Prochaine semaine, je voyage. Vrai: La semaine prochaine, je voyage.

Another nuance that trips up learners is the difference between 'dans une semaine' and 'en une semaine.' 'Dans une semaine' means 'one week from now' (a point in time). 'En une semaine' means 'within the duration of one week' (the time it takes to complete a task).

J'ai fini ce livre en une semaine (It took me seven days to read it).

The 'Huit Jours' Confusion: French people often say 'dans huit jours' to mean 'in a week.' English speakers might think this means eight days, but it's just a traditional way of counting from today to the same day next week. Similarly, 'quinze jours' means two weeks.

On se voit dans huit jours (See you next week on this same day).

Learners also struggle with 'en semaine' versus 'pendant la semaine.' 'En semaine' is used to exclude the weekend. 'Pendant la semaine' is more general and can refer to any seven-day period.

Pluralization: When pluralizing, remember the 's': 'les semaines.' It sounds the same as the singular in most contexts, so pay attention to the article 'les' to distinguish plural from singular.

Cela fait plusieurs semaines que j'attends sa réponse.

Finally, be careful with 'fin de semaine.' While it's common in Canada to mean Saturday and Sunday, in France, it often just means the end of the working week (Thursday or Friday). To be safe in France, use 'le week-end' for the two days off. By avoiding these common pitfalls, your French will sound much more natural and precise.

While la semaine is the standard term, several other words and phrases can be used depending on the context and the register. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and understand more complex texts.

Hebdomadaire: This is the adjective form of 'semaine.' It means 'weekly.' It is commonly used for magazines (un hebdomadaire) or recurring meetings (une réunion hebdomadaire).

Je lis cet hebdomadaire tous les samedis matins.

In Quebec and some other Francophone regions, 'la fin de semaine' is the preferred term for the weekend, whereas in France, 'le week-end' is almost universally used. This is a key regional difference.

Bonne fin de semaine ! (Common in Montreal).

Huit Jours vs. Une Semaine: While 'une semaine' is literal, 'huit jours' is idiomatic. If you want to sound very French, use 'huit jours' when referring to a week from today.

Le colis arrivera d'ici huit jours.

For the work week specifically, you might hear 'les jours ouvrables' (working days). This is more formal and used in legal or business documents to specify that weekends and holidays are excluded.

L'emploi du temps: When talking about the structure of your week, 'l'emploi du temps' (schedule) is a better word than just 'semaine.' It refers to the specific activities planned within that week.

Mon emploi du temps pour la semaine est très chargé.

In literature, you might encounter 'la huitaine,' which is similar to 'huit jours' but functions as a collective noun (about eight days/a week). These variations show that while 'la semaine' is the core term, the French language offers a rich palette of words to describe time with different shades of meaning and formality.

How Formal Is It?

Formell

"Veuillez nous faire parvenir votre rapport d'ici la fin de la semaine."

Neutral

"Je vais faire les courses une fois par semaine."

Informell

"T'as passé une bonne semaine ?"

Child friendly

"Il y a sept jours dans la semaine, chantons-les !"

Umgangssprache

"C'était une semaine de ouf, j'en peux plus."

Wusstest du?

During the French Revolution, the week was briefly replaced by a 10-day period called a 'décade' to move away from religious cycles. It was very unpopular because people had to work nine days before getting a day off!

Aussprachehilfe

UK /la sə.mɛn/

US /lɑ sə.mɛn/

The stress is generally even, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'maine.'

Reimt sich auf

peine reine scène haleine plaine chaîne veine graine

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'e' at the end (it is silent).
Making the 'ai' sound like 'ay' in 'play' (it should be 'eh' like in 'met').
Forgetting the 's' in 'semaines' (though it is silent, the preceding article changes).

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Schreiben 2/5

Need to remember the feminine gender and adjective agreement.

Sprechen 2/5

Pronunciation is simple but the 'ai' sound needs to be correct.

Hören 2/5

Can be slightly contracted in fast speech ('smene').

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

le jour sept lundi mardi

Als Nächstes lernen

le mois l'année prochain dernier

Fortgeschritten

hebdomadaire le septennat la quinzaine

Wichtige Grammatik

Adjective Agreement

La semaine est 'prochaine' (feminine).

Preposition 'Par'

Deux fois 'par' semaine (per week).

Definite Article with Time

'La' semaine dernière (The last week).

Preposition 'Dans' vs 'En'

'Dans' une semaine (in a week's time) vs 'En' une semaine (within a week).

Plural Articles

'Les' semaines passent vite.

Beispiele nach Niveau

Je travaille la semaine.

I work during the week.

'La semaine' acts as an adverbial phrase of time here.

Lundi est le premier jour de la semaine.

Monday is the first day of the week.

'Premier' is the masculine adjective agreeing with 'jour.'

Il y a sept jours dans une semaine.

There are seven days in a week.

'Une' is the feminine indefinite article.

Bonne semaine !

Have a good week!

A common greeting; 'bonne' is the feminine form of 'bon.'

J'aime ma semaine.

I like my week.

'Ma' is the feminine possessive adjective.

La semaine finit dimanche.

The week ends Sunday.

'Finit' is the third-person singular of 'finir.'

C'est une longue semaine.

It is a long week.

'Longue' is the feminine form of 'long.'

Qu'est-ce que tu fais la semaine ?

What do you do during the week?

'La semaine' implies the working days here.

Je vais au cinéma la semaine prochaine.

I am going to the cinema next week.

'Prochaine' follows the noun 'semaine.'

La semaine dernière, j'ai visité Paris.

Last week, I visited Paris.

'Dernière' follows the noun 'semaine.'

Je fais du sport trois fois par semaine.

I do sports three times a week.

'Par' is used to express frequency.

On se voit dans la semaine ?

Shall we see each other during the week?

'Dans la semaine' means 'sometime this week.'

Je suis très occupé cette semaine.

I am very busy this week.

'Cette' is the feminine demonstrative adjective.

Il pleut toute la semaine.

It's raining all week.

'Toute' is the feminine form of 'tout.'

Mon emploi du temps de la semaine est prêt.

My schedule for the week is ready.

'De la' shows possession/belonging.

Je t'appelle en fin de semaine.

I'll call you at the end of the week.

'En fin de' is a common temporal phrase.

Il faut organiser la semaine pour ne pas être stressé.

One must organize the week to not be stressed.

Infinitive 'organiser' follows 'il faut.'

La semaine suivante, tout a changé.

The following week, everything changed.

'Suivante' is used for relative future time.

C'est un magazine hebdomadaire très connu.

It is a very well-known weekly magazine.

'Hebdomadaire' is the adjective for 'weekly.'

Pendant la semaine, je n'ai pas le temps de cuisiner.

During the week, I don't have time to cook.

'Pendant' indicates duration.

Elle a passé une semaine de vacances à la mer.

She spent a week of vacation at the sea.

'Passé' is the past participle of 'passer.'

Je préfère travailler en semaine et me reposer le week-end.

I prefer to work during the week and rest on the weekend.

'En semaine' specifically means Mon-Fri.

La semaine s'est bien passée, merci.

The week went well, thank you.

Reflexive verb 'se passer' in the passé composé.

Nous avons une réunion hebdomadaire chaque lundi.

We have a weekly meeting every Monday.

'Chaque' emphasizes every single one.

La semaine de 35 heures est un sujet de débat en France.

The 35-hour week is a subject of debate in France.

Compound noun 'semaine de 35 heures.'

Il a terminé son projet en une semaine seulement.

He finished his project in only one week.

'En' indicates the duration taken to complete something.

Le rythme de la semaine influence notre santé mentale.

The rhythm of the week influences our mental health.

'Rythme' is the subject.

D'ici la fin de la semaine, nous aurons une réponse.

By the end of the week, we will have an answer.

'D'ici' means 'between now and.'

La semaine sainte est importante pour beaucoup de traditions.

Holy Week is important for many traditions.

'Sainte' is the feminine adjective for 'holy.'

Elle a pris une semaine de congé pour se ressourcer.

She took a week off to recharge.

'Congé' means leave or time off.

Le rapport doit être rendu dans la semaine.

The report must be submitted during the week.

Passive construction 'doit être rendu.'

La semaine a filé à une allure folle.

The week flew by at a crazy pace.

Idiomatic use of 'filer' (to fly/speed).

La structure de la semaine est un vestige de traditions anciennes.

The structure of the week is a vestige of ancient traditions.

'Vestige' is a high-level noun.

Il est impératif que nous revoyions notre planning de la semaine.

It is imperative that we review our schedule for the week.

Subjunctive 'revoyions' after 'il est impératif que.'

La semaine des quatre jeudis n'arrivera jamais.

The week of four Thursdays will never happen.

An idiom meaning 'never.'

L'hebdomadaire a publié une enquête exclusive.

The weekly (magazine) published an exclusive investigation.

'Hebdomadaire' used as a noun.

Cette semaine-là, le destin de la nation a basculé.

That week, the destiny of the nation shifted.

'-là' suffix for emphasis on a specific past time.

Au fil de la semaine, les tensions se sont apaisées.

As the week went by, tensions eased.

'Au fil de' means 'as it progresses.'

Une septaine de jours suffit pour s'adapter à un nouveau climat.

About seven days is enough to adapt to a new climate.

'Septaine' is a more formal/literary term for seven.

La semaine s'étire langoureusement pendant les vacances d'été.

The week stretches out languidly during summer vacation.

Literary use of 's'étirer' and 'langoureusement.'

L'arbitraire de la semaine de sept jours est un construit social fascinant.

The arbitrariness of the seven-day week is a fascinating social construct.

'Arbitraire' used as a noun.

Il s'agit d'une publication bihebdomadaire traitant de l'actualité géopolitique.

It is a bi-weekly publication dealing with geopolitical news.

'Bihebdomadaire' means twice a week.

La semaine, dans sa linéarité, occulte parfois la cyclicité des saisons.

The week, in its linearity, sometimes hides the cyclicity of the seasons.

Philosophical/abstract vocabulary.

Nonobstant la fatigue accumulée, il a tenu toute la semaine.

Notwithstanding the accumulated fatigue, he held on all week.

'Nonobstant' is a very formal preposition.

La semaine sainte, paroxysme de la ferveur religieuse, anime la ville.

Holy Week, the pinnacle of religious fervor, brings the city to life.

Apposition and high-level vocabulary ('paroxysme').

On ne saurait réduire la semaine à une simple succession de jours ouvrés.

One cannot reduce the week to a simple succession of working days.

Formal 'on ne saurait' (one cannot).

L'étymologie de 'semaine' nous renvoie à la septimana latine.

The etymology of 'semaine' takes us back to the Latin septimana.

Academic tone.

L'effervescence de la semaine de la mode s'est emparée de la capitale.

The excitement of Fashion Week has taken over the capital.

'S'emparer de' is a sophisticated reflexive verb.

Häufige Kollokationen

la semaine prochaine

la semaine dernière

toute la semaine

en semaine

par semaine

fin de semaine

début de semaine

dans la semaine

semaine de travail

chaque semaine

Häufige Phrasen

Bonne semaine !

La semaine passée

En milieu de semaine

D'une semaine à l'autre

Une semaine sur deux

La semaine sainte

Semaine de relâche

À la semaine !

Toutes les semaines

Une petite semaine

Wird oft verwechselt mit

La semaine vs le week-end

'La semaine' usually refers to the working days, while 'le week-end' is the rest period.

La semaine vs la quinzaine

'La quinzaine' means two weeks (15 days), not one.

La semaine vs le jour

'Le jour' is a single day, 'la semaine' is the group of seven.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"La semaine des quatre jeudis"

Something that will never happen.

Il me remboursera à la semaine des quatre jeudis.

informal

"Faire la semaine"

To work the full week (often in specific trades).

Il a fait la semaine sans s'arrêter.

neutral

"Être de semaine"

To be on duty for the week.

C'est moi qui suis de semaine à l'hôpital.

professional

"La semaine de 35 heures"

The standard legal work week in France.

La semaine de 35 heures est la règle.

neutral

"Passer la semaine"

To stay for the week.

Ils passent la semaine chez nous.

neutral

"À la semaine"

Paid or rented by the week.

Un appartement loué à la semaine.

neutral

"Une semaine de ouf"

An incredible/crazy week.

J'ai passé une semaine de ouf !

slang

"Couper la semaine"

To take a break in the middle of the week.

On va au resto pour couper la semaine.

informal

"Finir sa semaine"

To finish one's work for the week.

J'ai hâte de finir ma semaine.

neutral

"La semaine de la mode"

Fashion Week.

C'est la semaine de la mode à Paris.

neutral

Leicht verwechselbar

La semaine vs huit jours

It literally means 8 days but is used for 7.

'Une semaine' is the literal count, 'huit jours' is the idiomatic count including today and the same day next week.

On se voit dans huit jours.

La semaine vs hebdomadaire

It's the adjective form.

'Semaine' is the noun (the week), 'hebdomadaire' is the adjective (weekly).

Un journal hebdomadaire.

La semaine vs fin de semaine

Regional differences.

In France, it's the end of the work week; in Quebec, it's the weekend.

Bonne fin de semaine !

La semaine vs septaine

Both involve the number seven.

'Semaine' is the standard word; 'septaine' is technical or archaic.

Une septaine de jours.

La semaine vs prochaine semaine

Incorrect word order.

You must say 'la semaine prochaine' in French.

La semaine prochaine.

Satzmuster

C'est la semaine.

C'est la semaine de la fête.

[Day] est un jour de la semaine.

Mardi est un jour de la semaine.

La semaine [Adjective].

La semaine prochaine sera froide.

[Number] fois par semaine.

Je mange de la pizza une fois par semaine.

Pendant la semaine, je [Verb].

Pendant la semaine, je me lève tôt.

Toute la semaine, il a [Past Participle].

Toute la semaine, il a plu.

D'ici la fin de la semaine, [Clause].

D'ici la fin de la semaine, j'aurai fini.

Au fil de la semaine, [Clause].

Au fil de la semaine, il a compris son erreur.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

Verben

Adjektive

Verwandt

So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely frequent in daily life.

Häufige Fehler

Le semaine → La semaine
'Semaine' is a feminine noun. You must use 'la', 'une', or 'cette'.
Prochaine semaine → La semaine prochaine
Adjectives of time like 'prochaine' and 'dernière' follow the noun in this context.
Dans huit jours (meaning 8 days) → Dans huit jours (meaning 7 days)
In French, 'huit jours' is an idiom for exactly one week.
Sur la semaine → Pendant la semaine
'Sur' is a literal translation of 'on'. Use 'pendant' or 'durant' for duration.
Le prochain semaine → La semaine prochaine
The adjective must be feminine ('prochaine') to match the noun.

Tipps

Gender Agreement

Always pair 'semaine' with feminine adjectives. Say 'la semaine entière' not 'le semaine entier'.

Monday Start

When looking at a French calendar, remember the first column is Monday (Lundi).

Hebdomadaire

Learn the adjective 'hebdomadaire' early; it appears often in news and business.

Huit Jours

Use 'dans huit jours' to sound more like a native speaker when making plans for next week.

Silent E

Don't pronounce the 'e' at the end of 'semaine'. It ends on the 'n' sound.

En Semaine

Use 'en semaine' to specifically mean Monday through Friday.

Adjective Order

Place 'prochaine' and 'dernière' AFTER 'semaine'.

Contractions

Be prepared for 'la semaine' to sound like 'la smenn' in fast conversation.

Emploi du temps

Use 'emploi du temps' when talking about your specific weekly schedule.

Monday Greeting

Say 'Bonne semaine !' to colleagues or friends on Monday morning.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'SEven' and 'MAINE' (the state). A week has SEven days in MAINE. Se-maine.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a calendar with seven boxes, and a giant feminine 'LA' standing next to it.

Word Web

lundi mardi mercredi jeudi vendredi samedi dimanche week-end

Herausforderung

Try to name all seven days of the week in French in under 10 seconds, then say 'C'est ma semaine !'

Wortherkunft

From the Late Latin 'septimana,' derived from 'septimanus' (relating to the number seven).

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: A period or group of seven days.

Romance (Indo-European).

Kultureller Kontext

No specific sensitivities, but be aware of religious 'Holy Weeks' in different cultures.

In the US/UK, the week often starts on Sunday on calendars, but in France, it always starts on Monday.

'La Semaine sainte' (novel by Louis Aragon) 'La Semaine de la mode' (Paris Fashion Week)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Work

la réunion de la semaine
le planning de la semaine
la semaine de 35 heures
finir sa semaine

School

l'emploi du temps de la semaine
la semaine de quatre jours
les devoirs de la semaine
la semaine de relâche

Social

on se voit dans la semaine ?
bonne semaine !
qu'est-ce que tu fais cette semaine ?
la semaine prochaine

Shopping

la promotion de la semaine
ouvert toute la semaine
la semaine du blanc
le catalogue de la semaine

Travel

une semaine de vacances
louer à la semaine
la semaine dernière
partir pour la semaine

Gesprächseinstiege

"Comment s'est passée ta semaine jusqu'à présent ?"

"Qu'as-tu prévu de beau pour la semaine prochaine ?"

"Est-ce que tu préfères travailler en semaine ou le week-end ?"

"Quelle est ta journée préférée de la semaine et pourquoi ?"

"Est-ce que tu as une semaine très chargée en ce moment ?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Décris ta semaine idéale. Que ferais-tu chaque jour ?

Quels sont tes objectifs pour la semaine prochaine ?

Raconte un événement mémorable de la semaine dernière.

Comment organises-tu ton emploi du temps de la semaine ?

Préfères-tu les semaines calmes ou les semaines pleines d'activités ?

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, in France and most French-speaking countries, the week officially starts on Monday (lundi). Calendars reflect this by placing Monday in the first column.

'Dans une semaine' means 'one week from now' (e.g., I will see you in a week). 'En une semaine' means 'within the span of a week' (e.g., I finished the project in one week).

It is feminine: 'la semaine' or 'une semaine.' This is a common point of error for beginners.

It is a traditional way of counting that includes both the current day and the day the week ends. It is equivalent to 'a week from today.'

You use the adjective 'hebdomadaire.' For example, 'une réunion hebdomadaire' is a weekly meeting.

Yes, in Quebec it is the standard term for the weekend. In France, people usually say 'le week-end,' and 'fin de semaine' might just mean Thursday or Friday.

You say 'une semaine sur deux.'

It is an idiom meaning 'never,' because a week with four Thursdays is impossible.

No, the 's' is silent, but you will know it is plural because the article changes to 'les' or 'des.'

It is 'Holy Week,' the week leading up to Easter Sunday in the Christian calendar.