langula
My language portrait
A body outline to colour in: which language belongs in your head, which in your heart? With a key to fill in.
21 February
International Mother Language Day
On 21 February the world celebrates the languages people grow up with. Get ideas for nursery, class and language courses, listen to “hello” and “thank you” in 26 languages and print the language portrait for your group.
What is International Mother Language Day?
UNESCO proclaimed International Mother Language Day in 1999, and it has been observed every year on 21 February since 2000. It remembers 21 February 1952, when students in Dhaka, in today’s Bangladesh, demonstrated for Bengali to become an official language. Several of them were killed.
The day stands for linguistic diversity and for education in the language children bring from home. Around 7,000 languages are spoken worldwide, and many of them are considered endangered.
Many children grow up with more than one language. 21 February is a good moment to make those languages visible – at nursery, in class and in language courses for adults.
Ideas for 21 February
At nursery and primary school
- Morning circle: every child says “good morning” in the language they speak at home, and the others repeat it.
- Colour in a language portrait: which language belongs in your head, which in your heart?
- Read a picture book in two languages, with a parent reading the second one.
At secondary school
- Class survey “Our languages”: count the languages in the class and turn them into a chart.
- Favourite-word gallery: everyone presents a word from their language that is hard to translate.
- Research: what happened in Dhaka on 21 February 1952?
In ESOL and language courses
- Learners present their mother tongue: script, greeting and a proverb.
- A welcome wall with “hello” in every language in the course.
- Use the first language as a bridge: Langula explains every word in 27 interface languages.
In libraries, clubs and families
- A story hour in several languages.
- Parents share how they pass their language on to their children.
- Learn a word in your grandparents’ language.
To print
Free, no sign-up, and licensed under CC BY 4.0.
“Hello in 26 languages” poster
Greetings in 26 languages with script and pronunciation guide. A QR code leads to the audio.
“Thank you in 26 languages” poster
The companion to the hello poster: “thank you” in 26 languages with pronunciation guide and a QR code to the audio.
Survey “Our languages”
Tally chart and bar chart template: the class explores which languages it speaks – and practises maths along the way.
Hello in 26 languages
Tap the speaker to hear the pronunciation. Perhaps a child in your group speaks one of them at home.
- مَرْحَبًاMAR-hah-bahnArabic
- Griaß diGREES deeAustrian
- здравейzdra-VAYBulgarian
- 你好nee howChinese
- bokbohkCroatian
- hejhiDanish
- halloHAH-lohDutch
- helloEnglish
- heihayFinnish
- salutsah-LEWFrench
- Hallohah-LOHGerman
- γεια σουYAH sooGreek
- salveSAHL-vehItalian
- こんにちはkon-nee-chee-wahJapanese
- 안녕하세요ahn-nyawng-hah-seh-yohKorean
- MoinmoynLow German
- heihiNorwegian
- cześćcheshchPolish
- oláoh-LAHPortuguese
- salutsah-LOOTRomanian
- здравствуйтеzdrahst-VOOY-tyehRussian
- holaOH-lahSpanish
- hejhaySwedish
- مرحباMAR-hah-bahSyrian Arabic
- merhabaMEHR-hah-bahTurkish
- привітprih-VEETUkrainian
Thank you in 26 languages
The second word every group should know – also with a recording to listen to.
- شُكْرًاSHOOK-rahnArabic
- DankschönDAHNK-shurnAustrian
- благодаряblah-goh-dah-RYAHBulgarian
- 谢谢shyeh-shyehChinese
- hvalaHVAH-lahCroatian
- taktahkDanish
- dank je weldahnk yuh VELDutch
- thank youEnglish
- kiitosKEE-tossFinnish
- mercimair-SEEFrench
- DankeDAHN-kuhGerman
- ευχαριστώef-khah-ree-STOHGreek
- grazieGRAHT-see-ehItalian
- ありがとうございますah-ree-gah-toh goh-zai-mahsJapanese
- 감사합니다kahm-sah-hahm-nee-dahKorean
- Dank didahnk deeLow German
- takktahkNorwegian
- dziękujęjen-KOO-yehPolish
- obrigadooh-bree-GAH-dooPortuguese
- mulțumescmool-tsoo-MESKRomanian
- спасибоspah-SEE-bahRussian
- graciasGRAH-see-ahsSpanish
- tacktahkSwedish
- شكراًSHOOK-ranSyrian Arabic
- teşekkürlerteh-shek-kewr-LEHRTurkish
- дякуюDYAH-koo-yooUkrainian
Learn a language for free
All 26 languages from A1 to B2, with audio for every word, explained in 27 interface languages – free, in the browser, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
- When is International Mother Language Day?
- Every year on 21 February. In 2027 it falls on a Sunday, so many schools mark it on Friday 19 February.
- Who started the day?
- UNESCO proclaimed it in 1999. It has been observed worldwide since 2000.
- Why 21 February?
- On 21 February 1952 students were killed in Dhaka while demonstrating for Bengali to become an official language. In Bangladesh the day has been a day of remembrance ever since.
- What is a language portrait?
- An outline of a person that children and adults colour in with their languages – for example the family language in the heart and the school language in the head. You can print the template free from this page.
- How can I make my group’s languages heard?
- This page has “hello” and “thank you” in 26 languages with recordings. All 26 languages can be learned free on Langula, without an account.