I posted this about a year ago:
https://afarinrava.blogspot.com/2024/06/etymology.html
Some people aren't curious about the etymology of words because they think they need to have a deep understanding of linguistics to get it. Etymology doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a quick breakdown of why we call it Wednesday — explained in a way even a curious child could follow.
The word Wednesday comes from Woden’s Day. Woden (similar to Odin in Norse mythology) was the most important god for the Anglo-Saxons, who lived in what’s now England a long time ago. He was known for being wise, magical, and powerful — especially connected to knowledge and writing, so he was a big deal.
Before the Anglo-Saxons, the Romans ruled the land and had already named the days of the week after their gods and planets. Wednesday was dies Mercurii, or “day of Mercury,” named after Mercury — the Roman god of cleverness, travel, and communication.
When the Anglo-Saxons took over, they liked the idea of naming each day after a powerful figure, but they had their own gods. So they matched them up: Mercury was clever, and so was Woden. It made sense to swap him in.
That’s how Woden’s Day became part of the calendar. Over time, the way people pronounced it changed — Woden’s Day slowly turned into Wednesday. That’s why the spelling looks strange and the “d” is silent. I admit that I always sound out the syllables as I write the word: wed - nes - day. I have all my life... and it's the only word I do that with.
Happy Wednesday!
