savaitgal

Savaitgalis is the Lithuanian term for the weekend, the two-day period at the end of the workweek when people are usually free from regular duties. In Lithuania, the weekend traditionally consists of Saturday and Sunday. The word is formed from savaitė (week) and galas (end), literally meaning the end of the week. The shorter form savaitgal is sometimes seen in informal writing or headlines, but savaitgalis is the standard form in most contexts.

Usage and practice

During the weekend, people commonly engage in leisure, family activities, shopping, travel, and social events. Saturday is often used for errands, sports, and hobbies, while Sunday has historically been associated with rest and, in many communities, religious observance. In urban areas, cultural events, concerts, markets, and other recreational activities frequently take place on weekends, making this period a peak time for leisure and commerce.

Cultural and social context

The concept of the weekend in Lithuania reflects broader European patterns of rest and recreation linked to secular work schedules and, historically, Christian Sunday observance. Modern work life, education, and urban lifestyles influence how people structure their Saturdays and Sundays, with a growing emphasis on both rest and diverse forms of leisure. The idea of a weekend is widely used in calendars, planning, media, and everyday speech, signaling a break from weekday routines.

Note on terminology

The standard Lithuanian noun for the weekend is savaitgalis; savaitgal is a less common informal variant. In formal writing, savaitgalis is preferred.