noun

la semaine

week

Période de sept jours qui commence généralement un lundi et se termine un dimanche.

Definition & meaning

Semaine means week: a period of seven days, usually counted from Monday to Sunday in everyday French.

It can also mean the working week or weekdays, depending on context. For example, en semaine means “on weekdays” or “during the week,” as opposed to the weekend.

Grammar & Word origin

Semaine is a feminine noun: une semaine. Its plural is semaines.

It comes from Latin septimana, related to septem, meaning “seven.” This is a historical origin, rather than a division into parts in modern French.

Synonyms & antonyms

There is no exact, everyday French synonym for semaine. Sept jours () means “seven days” and describes its length, but does not always function as a direct substitute.

There is no strict antonym. Week-end () means “weekend” and contrasts with the working week, but it is part of the week rather than its opposite.