International Mother Language Day
Next: February 21, 2027
Say it in the language of home.
The story
Where it comes from
The idea came from Bangladesh, where 21 February is remembered for the students and citizens who stood up for the right to speak Bangla. UNESCO's General Conference proclaimed International Mother Language Day in November 1999, and the world has marked it since 2000. The UN General Assembly welcomed the day in a resolution in 2002. It celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism, and the simple truth that learning begins best in the language of home.
How it's celebrated
UNESCO and the United Nations hold talks and events on multilingual education, including online sessions where students share why learning in their own language matters. In Bangladesh the day is also one of quiet remembrance. Anywhere else, it is a good day to write a card in your grandmother's language, or to learn to say thank you in a neighbour's.
Did you know
- UNESCO estimates that there are 8,324 languages, spoken or signed, of which around 7,000 are still in use.
- According to UNESCO, a language disappears every two weeks, taking a whole cultural and intellectual heritage with it.
- Around 40 per cent of the world's learners cannot get an education in a language they speak or understand.
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