Days & Months in Turkish
Turkish days and months have their own unique character. The day names mix Turkish and Arabic roots, and the months were reformed in 1945 to replace Ottoman-era Arabic names with modern Turkish alternatives. Learning them also means practicing vowel harmony with suffixes -- a key Turkish skill. Here is your complete guide.
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Days of the Week
The Turkish week starts on Pazartesi (Monday). The word literally means "after Sunday" (Pazar + ertesi). Several day names reflect Islamic and market-day traditions.
Pazar means both "Sunday" and "market/bazaar." Pazartesi (Monday) literally means "after the market day." Cuma (Friday) comes from Arabic and is the Islamic day of congregation. Cumartesi (Saturday) means "after Friday."
Months of the Year
Turkey adopted its current month names in 1945, replacing Arabic-origin names with Turkish and Latin-derived words. The names are now standardized and used across all official contexts.
Some month names have Turkish meanings: Ocak means "hearth/fireplace" (the cold month), Ekim means "sowing" (planting season), Kasım means "November" but also relates to "cutting" (harvest time), and Aralık means "interval/gap" (between years).
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Using Days in Sentences
Turkish uses the word günü (day) and suffixes to express "on" a particular day:
- Pazartesi günü -- on Monday (literally "Monday day")
- Her cuma -- every Friday
- Geçen salı -- last Tuesday
- Gelecek perşembe -- next Thursday
- Pazartesiden cumaya kadar -- from Monday to Friday
Months and Vowel Harmony
When adding suffixes to months, you must follow Turkish vowel harmony. The locative suffix (-de/-da/-te/-ta) changes based on the last vowel of the month:
- Ocak'ta -- in January (-ta: back vowel, voiceless consonant)
- Şubat'ta -- in February
- Mart'ta -- in March
- Nisan'da -- in April (-da: back vowel, voiced consonant)
- Haziran'da -- in June
- Ekim'de -- in October (-de: front vowel)
- Eylül'de -- in September
When a month name ends in a vowel, an apostrophe separates the suffix: Mayıs'ta (in May). When adding suffixes to proper nouns in Turkish, the apostrophe is always used.
Date Format
- 5 Mart 2026 -- March 5, 2026
- Bugün günlerden ne? -- What day is it today?
- Bugün pazartesi. -- Today is Monday.
- Bugün ayın kaçı? -- What date is it today?
- Doğum günüm temmuzda. -- My birthday is in July.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are days and months capitalized in Turkish?
In formal and official Turkish, days and months are typically capitalized: Pazartesi, Ocak. However, in casual writing you may see them in lowercase. The Turkish Language Association (Türk Dil Kurumu) recommends capitalization.
How do I say "on Monday" in Turkish?
Use the day followed by günü (day): Pazartesi günü (on Monday). For habitual actions, add her: Her pazartesi (every Monday). You can also use the locative suffix -de/-da for emphasis: Pazartesi'de.
What suffixes do months take in Turkish?
Months follow vowel harmony rules for suffixes. "In January" is Ocak'ta (locative -ta because of the back vowel), while "in April" is Nisan'da (locative -da). The possessive connection uses the genitive: Ocak ayı (the month of January).
How do Turkish dates work?
Turkish dates follow day + month + year: 5 Mart 2026. When reading aloud: beş Mart iki bin yirmi altı. For formal documents, the order can also be reversed to year-month-day.