Did you know April 23rd is English Language Day? Yup, there’s a whole day dedicated to celebrating the language of Shakespeare, memes, pop songs, and your favorite shows. Whether you’re a word nerd, a grammar rebel, or just someone who enjoys a good pun, this day is for you.

Why on April 23rd?

English Language Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity. The date is especially significant: April 23rd is both the birth and death date of William Shakespeare, one of the greatest writers in the English language. His works have helped shape modern English, from phrases we use every day to the richness of its literary tradition.

Without Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have phrases like

• “Break the ice.”
• “Wild-goose chase”
• “Love is blind.”
• “It’s Greek to me.”

English: The Language That Gets Around

Over 1.5 billion people worldwide speak English. It’s the go-to language for international travel, science, business, the internet, and even pilots in the sky. From texting your friends to global diplomacy, English connects people like linguistic Wi-Fi.

English As A Language

One of the most extraordinary things about English? It’s a mash-up of a ton of other languages. Old English came from Germanic tribes, then it picked up French after the Norman invasion, borrowed Latin from scholars, and stole a bit of everything else along the way.

Words like tsunami, ballet, safari, and emoji? All borrowed. English is like the ultimate collector of cool words.

Fun Facts

Here are some fun facts about the English language:

• English is one of the six official UN languages, alongside Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish.
• English has words from over 350 other languages, making it a linguistic sponge.
• Shakespeare added 1,700+ new words to the English language—including “bedroom,” “swagger,” and “lonely.”
• The most commonly used letter is “E,” while “Z” is the least used.
• The word “set” has over 430 meanings, depending on context.
• The sentence “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter of the alphabet (a pangram!).
• The longest word in the dictionary is
  pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters!).
• “I am.” is the shortest grammatically correct sentence in English.
• The dot above the letters “i” and “j” is called a tittle.
• The word “emoji” comes from Japanese, unrelated to “emotion”.

How to Celebrate English Language Day Like a Pro

Here are some fun ways to flex your English-loving muscles:

• Put on a mini play or skit, Shakespeare-style (accents encouraged).
• Write a story using only one vowel. Challenge: Try “E”!
• Create a word-of-the-day reel or TikTok. Teach your followers something weird and wonderful.
• Play Scrabble, Wordle, or Bananagrams with friends or family.
• Start a pun battle. Winner gets eternal bragging rights.

Why It Matters

English Language Day is more than just a grammar geek’s holiday. It’s a celebration of how language brings people together. Whether you’re speaking, reading, texting, or tweeting, English helps us share ideas, tell stories, and understand each other—no matter where you’re from.

So go ahead and throw around some tongue-twisters, quote your favorite author, or just say “cheers” to the language.

Happy English Language Day! 🥳📚