grammar.articles.definite-uses
When Spanish uses el/la and English doesn't
Generalities (me gusta el café), languages, days of the week (los lunes), hours (a las tres), institutions, and body parts all take the article.
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Explanation
Spanish uses the definite article in many places English omits it. The biggest is generalities and whole categories: me gusta el café ('I like coffee'), el dinero no es todo, los perros son leales. Abstract nouns take it too: la paciencia es una virtud.
It also appears with days of the week as a schedule (el viernes hay reunión, los lunes), clock times (son las dos, a las tres), percentages (el 20 %), and after gustar-type verbs (me encanta la música). It marks institutions and meals as well: voy a la escuela, después del almuerzo.
Languages take the article (el español es fácil) except right after hablar, en, or de: hablo español, un texto en francés, clase de inglés. The overall pattern: when in doubt, Spanish includes the article more often than English does.
Examples
On Sundays we visit family.
Region: global
Patience is a virtue.
Region: global
On Tuesdays I study French; I'm interested in linguistics.