lunes

Lunes is the Spanish word for Monday, the first day of the workweek in many Spanish-speaking countries and the standard name used in Spanish calendars and everyday speech. The name reflects the traditional association of the Moon with the first day of the week in several ancient and medieval calendars.

Etymology and cognates: Lunes comes from the Latin dies Lunae, meaning "day of the Moon." This root is shared with related days in other Romance languages, such as lundi in French and lunedì in Italian, all deriving from the same lunar association.

Usage and examples: In Spanish, el lunes designates a specific Monday, while los lunes refers to Mondays in a habitual sense (for example, "los lunes voy al gimnasio"). Expressions include el próximo lunes (next Monday) and durante los lunes (on Mondays). In many contexts, lunes marks the start of the work or school week.

Calendars and standards: The designation of Monday as the first day of the week is reinforced by the ISO 8601 standard, which treats Monday as day 1. However, practical calendars and cultural practices vary by country; some local calendars may begin weeks on Sunday.

Cultural context: Beyond its use as a day name, lunes is often associated with routines, planning, and transitions from weekend to weekday activities. The term itself is primarily used as a time marker rather than having broader meanings in Spanish, though it can appear in literature, music, and place names.

In summary, lunes denotes Monday in Spanish, rooted in lunar nomenclature and reflected in modern calendars and daily usage.