Days of the Week in Hebrew (With Memory Tricks)

Learn the days of the week in Hebrew with pronunciation, meaning, and simple memory tricks. A beginner-friendly guide with examples and tips.

If you're learning Hebrew, the days of the week are some of the most useful words to know. You'll hear them when scheduling plans, talking about work, or making casual conversation.

If you're just starting your Hebrew journey, you may also want to read the Complete Beginner Guide to Hebrew which explains how the language works and how to start learning efficiently.

The good news: Hebrew days of the week are extremely logical.

Unlike English, which uses names based on Norse gods and planets, Hebrew simply counts the days leading up to Shabbat (Saturday).

Once you understand this pattern, remembering them becomes surprisingly easy.


The Days of the Week in Hebrew

English Hebrew Pronunciation Meaning
Sunday יום ראשון Yom Rishon First day
Monday יום שני Yom Sheni Second day
Tuesday יום שלישי Yom Shlishi Third day
Wednesday יום רביעי Yom Revi'i Fourth day
Thursday יום חמישי Yom Chamishi Fifth day
Friday יום שישי Yom Shishi Sixth day
Saturday שבת Shabbat The Sabbath

Many of these words are also connected to Hebrew numbers, so if you'd like to learn those as well, check out the guide to Numbers in Hebrew.


Why Hebrew Days Are Easy to Remember

In Hebrew, most days literally mean:

"Day + number."

For example:

  • יום ראשון (Yom Rishon) → First day
  • יום שני (Yom Sheni) → Second day
  • יום שלישי (Yom Shlishi) → Third day

This continues all the way to Friday:

  • יום שישי (Yom Shishi) → Sixth day

Then comes Shabbat, the traditional Jewish day of rest.

Because Hebrew uses numbers in many places, learning them early can help a lot. You can explore this more in the Numbers in Hebrew Guide.


Easy Memory Trick

Think of the week as a countdown to Shabbat.

1️⃣ First day — Sunday
2️⃣ Second day — Monday
3️⃣ Third day — Tuesday
4️⃣ Fourth day — Wednesday
5️⃣ Fifth day — Thursday
6️⃣ Sixth day — Friday
⭐ Shabbat — Saturday

Once you understand that the days are counting upward, the system becomes very intuitive.


Pronunciation Tips

If you're new to Hebrew pronunciation, a few sounds in these words may be unfamiliar.

For example:

ח (chet) in חמישי (Chamishi)
This is a deep throaty sound similar to the "ch" in the German word Bach.

ש (shin) in שישי (Shishi)
Pronounced like "sh."

If you want to improve pronunciation, it's helpful to first become familiar with the Hebrew Alphabet Chart + Pronunciation and the guide to Hebrew Vowels (Nikud).


Example Sentences

Here are a few simple examples you might hear in conversation.

נתראה ביום שני
Nitra'eh b'yom sheni
"See you on Monday."

יש לי פגישה ביום רביעי
Yesh li pgisha b'yom revi'i
"I have a meeting on Wednesday."

בשבת אני נח
B'Shabbat ani nach
"On Saturday I rest."

If you're learning everyday expressions, you may also enjoy the list of Essential Hebrew Phrases.


Quick Practice

Try saying the week in order out loud:

Yom Rishon → Yom Sheni → Yom Shlishi → Yom Revi'i → Yom Chamishi → Yom Shishi → Shabbat

Repeating them a few times helps them stick quickly.

You can also expand your vocabulary with 100 Common Hebrew Words which includes many useful everyday terms.


Learn Hebrew Faster with Practice

Reading guides like this is helpful, but real progress comes from consistent practice and repetition.

If you'd like to practice vocabulary through interactive exercises and quick games, try Shotef, a Hebrew learning app designed to help beginners build practical vocabulary.

You can practice topics like:

  • daily conversations
  • food and coffee orders
  • directions
  • common Hebrew phrases

Start with the basics, including How to Read Hebrew and Essential Hebrew Phrases to build a strong foundation.