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Python strftime directive %a

Abbreviated weekday name in the current locale.

Example (from datetime(2026, 6, 18, 13, 45, 30))
Thu
Output depends on the active locale. This page shows the C/English value; switch locales in the tester to see others.

In Python

from datetime import datetime
dt = datetime(2026, 6, 18, 13, 45, 30)
dt.strftime("%a")
# => "Thu"

Parsing with strptime

Parses an abbreviated weekday name (locale-dependent). See strptime.dev for the parsing side.

Try %a in the live tester →

Other Weekday directives