Keyword Guide · study-guide-general
Shakespeare wrote in Early Modern English, which uses different vocabulary and phrasing for time markers than contemporary English. Many students ask this question when writing creative responses, analyzing dialogue, or participating in Renaissance literature role-play activities. This guide includes verified usage rules, practice exercises, and assessment prep to use for class work and exams.
Shakespeare and other Early Modern English writers most often used the phrase “sennight next” or “next sennight” to refer to the seven-day period following the current day; a sennight is a historic term for a week, used widely in 16th and 17th century English writing. Less common variants include “this day sevennight” or “seven-night hence” to specify the same day of the following week. Context dictates which phrasing fits the tone of a scene or creative task.
Next Step
Skip late-night research and get verified, student-focused resources for all your Shakespeare class needs.
Shakespearean language refers to Early Modern English, the dialect used in London between roughly 1500 and 1700, when Shakespeare wrote his plays and poems. Unlike Old English or Middle English, Early Modern English is largely intelligible to modern readers, but uses distinct time-related vocabulary, including “sennight” to mean a seven-day week. Phrases referring to next week in this dialect always anchor the time frame to a specific present moment, either explicitly or implicitly through context.
Next step: Write down the three most common phrases for next week in Shakespearean language in your class notes for quick reference during discussion.
Action: Write down the three Shakespearean phrases for next week and match each to the correct modern meaning.
Output: A one-page reference sheet you can use for all upcoming Shakespeare class activities.
Action: Find one example of a time marker in the play you are currently reading and note how it shapes character interaction.
Output: A 3-sentence analysis you can share during class discussion to earn participation points.
Action: Rewrite a short modern paragraph about your plans for next week using Shakespearean time phrasing.
Output: A 5-sentence creative sample you can use for any assigned role-play or creative response task.
Essay Builder
Turn rough outlines into polished, top-scoring essays with guided support designed for literature students.
Action: Decide if you need a general reference to next week or a specific day in the coming week.
Output: A clear goal for the phrase you will use, so you can pick the correct variant.
Action: Use 'next sennight' for a general seven-day window, or 'this day sevennight' for the exact same day next week.
Output: A correctly selected phrase that fits the context of your assignment or discussion point.
Action: Shift the order to 'sennight next' only if you are writing in iambic pentameter and need to match the line’s rhythm.
Output: A natural-sounding line that follows both Shakespearean language rules and the structural needs of your work.
Teacher looks for: Accurate use of verified Shakespearean time phrases alongside invented or incorrect archaic vocabulary.
How to meet it: Stick to the three confirmed phrases for next week, and double-check that you are not using 'fortnight' or other incorrect terms by mistake.
Teacher looks for: Phrase choice that matches the tone of the character or scene you are writing about or adapting.
How to meet it: Use the more formal 'this day sevennight' for noble or serious characters, and the shorter 'next sennight' for casual working-class dialogue.
Teacher looks for: Explanation of how the time phrase connects to broader themes or character traits in the text, not just correct definition.
How to meet it: Add one sentence explaining why the character chose that specific time phrase alongside a different option, to show deeper understanding.
The most widely used phrase for next week in Shakespearean writing is 'next sennight.' Sennight is a shortening of 'seven-night,' a common term for a seven-day period in Early Modern English. If you need to specify the exact same day of the following week, use 'this day sevennight' or 'seven-night hence.' Use this before class to identify time markers in the scene you are discussing that day.
'Next sennight' works for general references to the coming week, such as a character mentioning a plan to hold a feast or travel soon. 'This day sevennight' is used for specific, scheduled events, such as a duel, wedding, or court appearance that falls on the same day of the next week. 'Seven-night hence' is a more formal, distant phrasing used most often by noble characters or in official proclamations. Test your understanding by rewriting one line from your current reading with the correct phrase for its context.
Working-class characters in Shakespeare’s plays almost always use the shorter 'next sennight' in casual dialogue. Noble characters use the longer, more specific phrases to show their attention to order and scheduling, especially in history plays and tragedies. Comic characters may mix up time phrases to create confusion or punchlines. Note one example of a character’s time phrase usage in your notes to share during discussion.
Never use 'fortnight' to refer to next week, as a fortnight is a 14-day period, not seven days. Do not invent fake archaic phrases like 'next weeke' or 'coming sevenday' to sound more authentic, as these do not appear in any of Shakespeare’s surviving work. Avoid shifting phrase order unnecessarily, as 'sennight next' usually refers to the previous week, not the coming one, in most existing texts. Cross-check any phrase you plan to use in an assignment against your class textbook to confirm accuracy.
Many teachers assign creative writing or role-play activities that require students to write Shakespearean-style dialogue. Correct time phrase usage makes your work feel more authentic and shows you pay attention to small linguistic details. You can also use these phrases to write more accurate paraphrases of Shakespeare’s text for study guides or summary assignments. Write one line of original Shakespearean dialogue using a next-week phrase to practice for your next creative assignment.
Time markers are often overlooked as evidence for essays about theme, character, or narrative structure. A character’s choice of time phrase can support arguments about their social class, level of organization, or attitude toward an upcoming event. You can also use shifts in time phrasing across a play to track changes in tone or plot pacing. List one way you could use a time phrase as evidence in your next essay to strengthen your thesis.
No, 'week' was a less common term for a seven-day period in Early Modern English casual dialogue, and Shakespeare used 'sennight' almost exclusively in his surviving work.
Yes, sennight is a direct synonym for a seven-day week, used widely in English writing from the 14th to the 18th century.
A sennight is seven days, or one week, while a fortnight is 14 days, or two weeks, so the two terms are not interchangeable.
Yes, these phrases are historically accurate and appropriate for any creative assignment that requires authentic Early Modern English wording.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
Continue in App
Get on-demand study support for every text on your syllabus, from Shakespeare to contemporary novels.
