Italian Phrase
È martedì.
Meaning
This phrase is the standard way to state that the current day is Tuesday. In Italian, the subject 'it' is omitted because the verb 'è' (is) inherently includes the third-person singular subject. Unlike English, days of the week are not capitalized in Italian unless they start a sentence.
When to use
Use this phrase when someone asks 'Che giorno è oggi?' (What day is today?) or when you are confirming a schedule. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èmartedì
È (Essere)
The third-person singular of 'essere' (to be). It translates to 'it is' in this context, as Italian is a pro-drop language where the subject pronoun is usually omitted.
martedì
Italian days of the week are masculine nouns. Note the grave accent on the 'i', which indicates the stress falls on the final syllable.
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, che giorno è oggi?
Excuse me, what day is it today?
È martedì.
It is Tuesday.
✕Common Mistakes
Il è martedì.
In Italian, you do not use the definite article 'il' before the verb when stating the day of the week.
Sta martedì.
Learners often confuse 'essere' and 'stare'. Use 'essere' (è) to identify days, not 'stare' (sta).
↔Alternatives
Oggi è martedì.
Today is Tuesday.
Siamo a martedì.
It's Tuesday (literally: We are at Tuesday, used colloquially to note the point in the week).
Cultural Tip
In Italy, Tuesday (Martedì) is named after Mars, the god of war. There is a popular superstition captured in the proverb 'Né di venere né di marte, non si sposa non si parte,' which suggests that one should not get married or start a journey on a Tuesday or a Friday.