Rhiannon Hendricks
Wednesday, the day of the week after Tuesday and before Thursday, is derived from the Old English word Wodnesdæg or Wōdnesdæg, which means Woden's day. Woden, or Odin, was the chief god of the Germanic people who lived in northern Europe in ancient times. The Old English word was a translation of the Latin Mercurii dies, meaning day of Mercury, and the Koine Ancient Greek Hermou, meaning day of Hermes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day of the week | Fourth day of the week in many religious traditions, and the third day in systems using the ISO 8601 norm |
| Day before | Tuesday |
| Day after | Thursday |
| Origin | Named after the Germanic god Odin, or Woden, whose name in Old English was Wōdnesdæg or "Woden's day" |
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What You'll Learn
Wednesday is the fourth day of the week
The word "Wednesday" has evolved over time, with variations in different languages. In Middle English, it was known as "Wodnesdei", and in Old Frisian as "wednesdei". The Dutch word for Wednesday is "woensdag", while the German word is "Wodenstag". The day is also referred to as "Odin's day" in some translations, further emphasising its connection to the chief Germanic god.
Wednesday is often used as a reference point for planning and scheduling. For example, one might say, "I work Wednesday to Sunday" or "The museum is closed on Wednesdays". It is also common to refer to a specific Wednesday, such as "next Wednesday" or "last Wednesday". In British English, the phrase "Wednesday week" refers to the Wednesday of the week after the upcoming week, indicating a specific future date.
Wednesday is a day like any other, but its position as the fourth day of the week holds cultural and historical significance. It serves as a midpoint of the workweek for many, a time to gather energy for the remaining days before the weekend. In some religious traditions, Wednesday may hold specific observances or rituals, further emphasising its importance in the weekly cycle.
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The day is named after the Germanic god Odin
The English language adopted several words from the Germanic languages, including the names of the days of the week. Wednesday, the day after Tuesday and before Thursday, is no exception.
The name Wednesday is derived from the Old English "Wōdnesdæg" or "Wodnes dag", which translates to Woden's day. Woden, or Wotan, is the Germanic god corresponding to the Roman god Mercury and the Greek god Hermes. Woden is also known as Odin, the chief god in Norse mythology, associated with war, luck, royal power, rune power, and wisdom.
In the Roman system of naming the days of the week, each day was named after one of the seven classical planets, which were themselves named after the gods. The Latin "dies Mercurii" means "day of Mercury", and this is reflected in the names for Wednesday in several modern Romance languages, such as the French "mercredi" and the Italian "mercoledì". The Germanic interpretation of the Latin "dies Mercurii" led to the naming of Wednesday after Woden, or Odin, as the Germanic equivalent of Mercury.
In addition to English, several other languages also name Wednesday after Odin. For example, the Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish word onsdag means Odin's day (from "Odens dag"). Similarly, the Japanese word for Wednesday is "suiyoubi", which means "water day" and is associated with the planet Mercury, or "suisei", meaning "water star".
Wednesday is also known by other names in various cultures. For example, in Slavic languages, Wednesday is derived from "the middle", as it is the middle day of the workweek. In Orthodox Christianity, Wednesdays are days of fasting and commemorate the betrayal of Jesus.
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It is also known as 'Woden's day'
The name "Wednesday" is derived from the Old English "Wōdnes dæg" or Wodnesdei, which translates to "Woden's day". Woden, also known as Odin, is the god associated with Mercury and Hermes in Roman and Greek mythology, respectively.
Wednesday is named after Woden, the supreme deity of Germanic paganism and the god of wisdom, war, and death in Norse mythology. Woden is often depicted as a one-eyed, elderly man with a long beard and a broad hat, riding an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir. He is also associated with magic, poetry, and prophecy and is known for his cunning and deception.
The association of Wednesday with Woden can be traced back to the early Germanic peoples, who named the days of the week after their gods. This is similar to how the Romans named the days after their gods, with Wednesday being "Mercury's day" or "day of Mercury" (dies Mercurii in Latin). The Germanic peoples likely made a connection between Woden and Mercury due to their shared characteristics and roles as messengers, psychopomps, and gods of commerce and trade.
The name "Woden" or "Odin" is also found in other languages' versions of Wednesday. For example, in Old Norse, it is Othinsdagr or Odin's day, and in Old Frisian, it is wonnesdei. Wednesday in other Germanic languages also has roots in the word "Woden", such as the Dutch "woensdag", German "Wodenstag", and Swedish "onsdag". These variations all stem from the Proto-West Germanic form "Wodan" or "Wodanaz".
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The Latin name is 'Mercurii dies' or 'day of Mercury'
The English word "Wednesday" is derived from the Old English "Wōdnes dæg" or Woden's day, which is a translation of the Latin "Mercurii dies" or "day of Mercury". In Latin-derived languages, the Latin name is reflected in the word for Wednesday, such as "mercredi" in French and "miercoles" in Spanish.
The Roman god Mercury was identified with the god Woden in Northern Europe, and the day was especially aligned with the astrological signs of Gemini and Virgo. The association of the day with Mercury is also seen in other cultures and languages. For example, in Japanese, the word for Wednesday is "su-yo-bi", which is associated with "suisei", meaning Mercury or "water star". In Hindu culture, Budha is the god of Mercury and Wednesday, and he is worshipped on this day.
The astrological sign of Mercury, ☿, is also used to represent Wednesday. The day is also associated with financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication, travel, luck, trickery, merchants, and thieves.
The Latin name "Mercurii dies" or "day of Mercury" is, therefore, the origin of the word "Wednesday" in English and has influenced the word for this day of the week in various other languages.
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Wednesday is abbreviated to 'Wed' or 'Weds'
Wednesday is the fourth day of the week in many religious traditions and the third day of the week in systems using the ISO 8601 norm. It falls between Tuesday and Thursday. The name "Wednesday" is derived from the Old English "Wodnesdæg" or "Wōdnesdæg", meaning "Woden's day", named after the Germanic god Woden (also known as Odin).
Over time, the Old English "Wōdnesdæg" evolved into the Middle English "Wednesdei", and eventually into the Modern English "Wednesday". Cognates of "Wednesday" can be found in various Germanic and Romance languages, including West Frisian ("woansdei"), Afrikaans ("Woensdag"), Dutch ("woensdag"), German ("Wodenstag"), and Latin ("dies Mercurii", or "day of Mercury").
When abbreviating "Wednesday", it is common to use the shortened form "Wed." or "Weds." depending on regional and stylistic conventions. The abbreviation "Wed." is typically used in dates and more formal contexts, while "Weds." is often employed in less formal writing or when indicating multiple Wednesdays. For example, one might say, "We meet on Weds." or "The museum is closed on Weds." to convey that an event occurs every Wednesday.
However, when referring to a single Wednesday, such as a specific date or upcoming event, the abbreviation "Wed." is generally preferred. For instance, "We'll meet again on Wed., June 21st." or "Don't forget our appointment this Wed. at 2 pm."
In conclusion, the abbreviation of "Wednesday" as "Wed." or "Weds." depends on context and style. "Wed." is often used for dates and formal contexts, while "Weds." is common in informal or plural usages.
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Frequently asked questions
The word Wednesday comes from the Old English "Wōdnesdæg", which means "Woden's day", named after the Germanic god Odin.
Wednesday can be abbreviated as "Wed.", "Weds.", or "Wed".
In North America, Wednesday is sometimes informally referred to as "hump day" as it is the middle of the work week.
The Dutch word for Wednesday is "woensdag", which shares the same etymology as the English word.
The Yiddish word for Wednesday is "mitvokh", which is similar to the German word "Mittwoch".
