European Day of Languages
Every year on 26 September, Europe celebrates its many languages. Join in: listen to “hello” in 26 languages, try a language you have never learned and take ideas home for your class, nursery or team.
Say hello in 26 languages
Tap the speaker to hear the pronunciation – recorded for every language you can learn on Langula.
The 5-minute challenge
Pick a language you have never studied and finish its first lesson. Five minutes, no account, right in your browser.
What is the European Day of Languages?
The European Day of Languages goes back to the European Year of Languages 2001, organised by the Council of Europe together with the European Union. It has been celebrated every year on 26 September ever since.
The idea: learning languages should be part of everyday life – at any age, at school and beyond. The day celebrates Europe’s more than 200 languages, from the 24 official languages of the EU to regional and minority languages such as Low German.
It is coordinated by the Council of Europe’s European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz. Schools, libraries, adult education centres and companies across Europe take part with their own activities.
Ideas to join in
At school
- Hello round: every pupil greets the class in a language from home or from the poster.
- Language bingo at break time: who can find someone who counts to ten in Turkish?
- Quiz “Which language is this?” with greetings from twelve countries.
At nursery and primary school
- Morning circle with a greeting of the day – played straight from the tablet.
- Collect the children’s languages on a world map.
- Learn a song in a language spoken in the group.
At work
- Colleagues introduce a favourite word from their language.
- Take the 5-minute challenge together during a break.
- Add a greeting in another language to your email signature for the day.
On your own
- Listen to a language you have never heard before.
- Finish the first lesson of the language you need for your next trip.
- Thank someone in their own language.