Englewood, NJ Guide to the Hebrew Days of the Week

Learning the days of the week in Hebrew gives students a useful foundation for reading calendars, understanding conversations, following schedules, and recognizing Jewish cultural references. The system is relatively consistent: Sunday begins the week, and most weekday names are based on Hebrew numbers.

What are the days of the week in Hebrew?

In modern Hebrew, the weekdays are usually named by number. The Hebrew word for “day” is *yom* (יום), and the days from Sunday through Friday are formed with the ordinal numbers one through six.

• Sunday — יוֹם רִאשׁוֹן — Yom Rishon
• Monday — יוֹם שֵׁנִי — Yom Sheni
• Tuesday — יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי — Yom Shlishi
• Wednesday — יוֹם רְבִיעִי — Yom Revi’i
• Thursday — יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי — Yom Chamishi
• Friday — יוֹם שִׁשִּׁי — Yom Shishi
• Saturday — שַׁבָּת — Shabbat

The first six names follow a clear numerical pattern:

• *Rishon* means first.
• *Sheni* means second.
• *Shlishi* means third.
• *Revi’i* means fourth.
• *Chamishi* means fifth.
• *Shishi* means sixth.

Saturday is different. Rather than being called “the seventh day” in ordinary conversation, it is known as *Shabbat*, the traditional day of rest.

Why does the Hebrew week begin on Sunday?

Hebrew calendars generally treat Sunday as the first day of the week and Saturday as the seventh day. This ordering appears in religious texts, modern calendars, school schedules, and everyday speech.

That pattern can feel different for English speakers who are accustomed to seeing Monday listed first in some work or school calendars. The Hebrew names themselves make the order easier to remember: Sunday is “first day,” Monday is “second day,” and so on.

A helpful memory line is:

Rishon, Sheni, Shlishi, Revi’i, Chamishi, Shishi, Shabbat.

Saying the sequence aloud helps connect each sound with its position in the week.

How are the Hebrew names pronounced?

Pronunciation varies slightly among speakers and communities, but the following forms are widely understood:

• Yom Rishon: yohm ree-SHON
• Yom Sheni: yohm sheh-NEE
• Yom Shlishi: yohm shlee-SHEE
• Yom Revi’i: yohm reh-vee-EE
• Yom Chamishi: yohm kha-mee-SHEE
• Yom Shishi: yohm shee-SHEE
• Shabbat: shah-BAHT

The Hebrew letter ח, found in *Chamishi*, represents a throaty sound that does not have an exact equivalent in standard English. It can be approximated with the sound in the middle of “Bach,” though many beginners use a lighter “h” sound while learning.

The apostrophe in *Revi’i* represents the Hebrew letter ע, called *ayin*. In contemporary pronunciation, it may be subtle or nearly silent for many speakers. Beginners should focus first on recognizing the word and maintaining the overall rhythm.

How can a learner remember the sequence?

The numbered structure is the main memory aid. Instead of memorizing seven unrelated vocabulary words, learn the number-based pattern in order.

A practical study routine takes only a few minutes:

1. Say the days from Sunday to Saturday.
2. Point to each day on a calendar.
3. Say the Hebrew name before saying the English equivalent.
4. Practice moving backward from Saturday to Sunday.
5. Use the words in short sentences.

For example:

• Hayom Yom Sheni. — Today is Monday.
• Machar Yom Shlishi. — Tomorrow is Tuesday.
• Etmol hayah Yom Rishon. — Yesterday was Sunday.

The word *hayom* means “today,” *machar* means “tomorrow,” and *etmol* means “yesterday.” These three time words make the weekday vocabulary more useful in ordinary conversation.

What is the difference between *Yom Shishi* and *Shabbat*?

*Yom Shishi* means Friday, literally “the sixth day.” *Shabbat* begins at sunset on Friday and continues through Saturday evening. As a result, Hebrew speakers may discuss Friday in two related ways: Friday as a calendar day and the period leading into Shabbat.

For example, a person may say:

• Yom Shishi when referring to Friday itself.



• Shabbat when referring to the weekly day of rest, its customs, meals, services, or general observance.

The exact timing of Shabbat changes throughout the year because sunset changes with the seasons. This is especially noticeable in northern New Jersey, where winter evenings arrive much earlier than summer evenings. Families planning meals, schoolwork, or gatherings may therefore use both the weekday name and a specific clock time.

How do the Hebrew days appear on calendars?

Hebrew calendars may display the days in Hebrew letters rather than spelling out the complete names. The number values are:

• א — Alef — Sunday
• ב — Bet — Monday
• ג — Gimel — Tuesday
• ד — Dalet — Wednesday
• ה — He — Thursday
• ו — Vav — Friday
• ש — Shin — Shabbat

The first six letters correspond to numbers one through six. Saturday is marked with *Shin*, the first letter of *Shabbat*. Some calendars also use the full Hebrew names, while others show abbreviations.
Learners should check whether a calendar places Sunday or Monday in the first column. The language itself identifies Sunday as the first day, but calendar layouts may differ for practical or international reasons.

What common mistakes should beginners avoid?

A frequent mistake is treating Saturday as simply “Yom Shvi’i” in everyday modern Hebrew. The phrase may be understandable in a numerical or biblical discussion, but ordinary speech uses *Shabbat*.
Another mistake is confusing the similar-sounding words:

• Sheni means second, or Monday.
• Shishi means sixth, or Friday.
• Shlishi means third, or Tuesday.

The repeated “sh” sound can make these words difficult at first. Writing them in sequence and noticing their endings helps separate them.
It is also useful to remember that Hebrew is read from right to left, but numbers and dates may appear in layouts that require a moment of adjustment. Reading the words aloud while looking at a calendar builds familiarity faster than studying a list alone.

How can local households practice naturally?

In Englewood, families may have routines shaped by school schedules, work commutes, religious observance, seasonal daylight, and shared meals. Those routines provide natural opportunities to practice without turning every exercise into formal study.
A household might label a weekly planner with both English and Hebrew, say the Hebrew day before discussing evening plans, or ask a child, “What day comes after *Yom Chamishi*?” A refrigerator calendar, notebook, or phone calendar can become a simple visual reference.
For adult learners, pairing each word with a recurring activity works well: *Yom Sheni* for a regular class, *Yom Chamishi* for errands, *Yom Shishi* for preparation, and *Shabbat* for rest or family time. Repetition in meaningful settings helps the vocabulary become automatic.

What should a learner study next?

After learning the days, the most useful next steps are the Hebrew words for today, tomorrow, yesterday, morning, evening, week, and weekend. Learners can then form practical statements such as:

• Eizeh yom hayom? — What day is today?
• Hayom Yom Revi’i. — Today is Wednesday.
• Nitra’eh b’Yom Shishi. — See you on Friday.
• Shavua tov. — Have a good week.

The weekday names are simple enough for beginners but rich enough to connect language study with calendars, family routines, Jewish traditions, and everyday planning. Once the numerical pattern is understood, the full sequence becomes easier to recognize, pronounce, and use.