International English Language Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Sunday, April 23rd. There are until the next observance.

Every year on April 23, International English Language Day is observed. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the language’s history as well as increasing skill among speakers all around the world. The United Nations established this holiday, along with Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish, to encourage cultural diversity and multilingualism. To commemorate this day, many groups throughout the world offer a variety of activities, such as book readings, film viewings, and quizzes. This day is intended to teach people of all ages about the beauty, intricacy, and universality of the language, whether you are a student or an adult.

📆 When is International English Language Day?

This year, International English Language Day is on April 23rd. It is the 4th Sunday in April; in 2024, it is on Tuesday.

Countdown to International English Language Day

Did you know: English is spoken as a primary language by 952 million people worldwide and as a second language by 603 million people.

You can also learn all interesting things you didn’t know about and facts about April 23, 2023.

📜 History of International English Language Day

The Germanic tribes evolved the Old English language between 450 A.D. and 1100 A.D., which is the ancient variety of English that is still widely spoken today. The end of Old English was witnessed around 1100 A.D. When William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, entered England, he began the country’s linguistic divide. Later, the poorer and higher classes spoke English and French, respectively. This split led to a language called Middle English, which was a mix of Old English and French words. It became Britain’s main language in the 14th century.

The birth of Modern English occurred at the beginning of the 16th century, when the language’s sound changed dramatically. The ‘Great Vowel Shift’ occurred when vowels in the English language became shorter and shorter. Printing of texts and books began during this period, establishing modern English as a standard in the United Kingdom. The first English-language dictionary was published in 1604.

Vocabulary is the primary distinction between today’s English and 16th-century Modern English. The Industrial Revolution and the Global British Empire both had a role in this. The Industrial Revolution necessitated the use of additional words. On the other hand, this was the height of the British Empire’s colonial empire, which covered a fifth of the world’s land and made it necessary for them to learn foreign words.

☑️ International English Language Day facts

The longest word in the English language
The longest English word is “pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis,” a medical term describing a lung condition caused by inhaling tiny silica dust.

The shortest English sentence
The smallest full sentence in English is “I am.”

The shortest and oldest English word
“I” is the shortest and earliest English word, according to historians and medieval documents.

Things to do on International English Language Day

Host a book club with your friends
There is no better way to celebrate International English Language Day than by gathering your friends and holding a book club. It’s a terrific opportunity to spend time with friends while talking about your favorite books and making book recommendations for future reading.

Take online English classes
Online language programs are ideal if English is not your first language. There are different English lessons for people who are just starting to learn or for people who are already very good at English.

Experience Shakespeare
The 23rd of April is both International English Language Day and Talk Like Shakespeare Day. Spend the day watching your favorite Shakespeare flicks or reading his world-famous plays.

📅 International English Language Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 April 23 Sunday
2024 April 23 Tuesday
2025 April 23 Wednesday
2026 April 23 Thursday
2027 April 23 Friday

Explore all April holidays, including Special Interest and other Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and cool facts about International English Language Day. So be sure to check back soon.