French Phrase
On est quel jour ?
Meaning
This is a very common, informal way to ask for the day of the week in French. It uses the pronoun 'on' to represent a collective 'we', effectively asking 'What day are we at?'. It is the standard way to check if it is Monday, Tuesday, or any other day.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings like with friends, family, or coworkers when you have lost track of time. It is perfect for daily conversation and is much more natural than more formal textbook versions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onestqueljour
On
In casual French, 'on' is used instead of 'nous' to mean 'we' or 'one', and it always takes the third-person singular verb form.
Quel
This is an interrogative adjective meaning 'which' or 'what'. It is masculine singular here to match the noun 'jour'.
🗨In Conversation
On est quel jour ?
What day is it?
On est déjà mercredi !
It's already Wednesday!
✕Common Mistakes
Quel jour est-il ?
While grammatically correct, this sounds overly formal and stiff in modern spoken French.
On est quel date ?
'Jour' refers to the day of the week, whereas 'date' refers to the calendar number; use 'On est le combien ?' for the date.
↔Alternatives
Quel jour on est ?
What day are we?
C'est quel jour aujourd'hui ?
What day is it today?
Cultural Tip
In France, 'on' has almost entirely replaced 'nous' in spoken language. Using 'on est' rather than 'nous sommes' will immediately make you sound more like a native speaker and less like a tourist reading from a phrasebook.