Wednesday

Wednesday is the day of the week that falls between Tuesday and Thursday. In most modern calendars it is the third day of the week when Monday is considered the first day; in calendars that start on Sunday, it is the fourth day.

The name has different origins in various languages. The English Wednesday derives from Old English Wōdnesdæg, named for the god Woden (Odin). In many other Germanic languages a form related to Odin or Woden persists (for example Dutch woensdag and German Mittwoch, with Danish and Norwegian onsdag reflecting Odin’s day). In Romance languages the day is typically linked to Mercury, yielding forms such as miércoles (Spanish), mercredi (French), mercoledì (Italian), and quarta-feira (Portuguese).

Usage and cultural notes often emphasize its midweek position. Wednesday commonly marks the midpoint of the workweek in many cultures, with the colloquial term “hump day” used to denote crossing that midpoint. The weekday name also appears in popular culture and as a given name, notably in the character Wednesday Addams from the Addams Family. Some calendars and traditions assign religious or astrological associations to Wednesday, reflecting its historical links to Mercury in certain contexts. Overall, Wednesday functions as a practical reference point in scheduling and cultural referents across languages and regions.