What is the UN French Language Day?
On 20 March, we once again celebrate UN French Language Day, a global celebration of linguistic diversity and cultural exchange. Created by the United Nations in 2010, this day is to remind us of the long history of the French language, as well as its continuing influence in international diplomacy, literature and culture
Why is the UN French Language day celebrated on 20 March?
20 March was chosen for the UN French language day, since it “coincides with the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie“. Establishing the UN French Language Day was part of a wider effort to promote equal use of all six official UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian). Similarly appropriate days were chosen to celebrate the other five languages.
The Relevance of the French language in a Global World
French — with roughly 300 million speakers in 29 countries — enjoys a special status as one of the six official languages of the United Nations. As a language of diplomacy and international relations, it remains very relevant in our globalised society of today. From the shores of Europe to the heart of Africa, and from the bustling cities of North America to the farthest corners of the world, French unites cultures, bridging the gap and fostering understanding and cooperation across borders and continents.
Origins and History of the French Language
The history of the French language is a fascinating one that stretches back over a thousand years. Its evolution from a dialect of Old French in the ninth century to the language we use now shows its adaptability and resilience. This evolution can be broken down in major milestones:
- 9th century: The first known document is in Old French, Oaths of Strasbourg
- 12th-13th centuries: Growth of Old French literature, including epic poems such as “The Song of Roland.”
- Early 16th century: Middle French begins to dominate, shaped by the Pléiade poets, who worked to enrich and systematize the language
- 1635: Cardinal Richelieu establishes the French Academy to protect and standardise the French language
- 17th century onwards: Development of modern French, coinciding with France’s emergence as a global power
The living testament comprises a myriad of diverse forms, from literature to cinema, travel to food, and world cities to uniforms, attesting to the power of language in shaping human expression and thought.
French as a Global Language
French achieved global significance during the colonial era and the Age of Enlightenment. By the 17th and 18th centuries, and solidified in prestige, French was the lingua franca of European courts and much of diplomacy. French has played a historical role as a quasi-international language internationally, partly with lasting effects؛ French remains an important diplomatic language globally.
Reach of the French Language
How widely spoken is French today?
French is spoken by about 74 million native speakers and 238 million second-language speakers in 2025, for a grand total of about 312 million total speakers, according to Ethnologue.
To put this in context, these 312 million speakers put French in sixth place, behind English, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish and Modern Standard Arabic.
The 238 million second-language speakers put French in fourth position in that category, behind only English, Modern Standard Arabic and Hindi. This is a clear testament to the continuing importance of French as a lingua franca and official language around the world. This huge number of learners also demonstrates the ongoing great interest in the language and culture.
What countries have the most French speakers?
The 10 countries with the greatest number of French speakers (native and non-native speakers combined) are (according to a 2022 report by OIF, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie):
- France: 63,394,000
- Democratic Republic of Congo: 48,925,000
- Algeria: 14,904,000
- Morocco: 13,457,000
- Germany: 12,298,000
- Italy: 11,797,000
- Cameroon: 11,491,000
- United Kingdom: 11,281,000
- Canada: 11,061,000
- Ivory Coast: 9,325,000
What is perhaps most striking about this top 10 list is that it includes 3 countries (Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) where French has no official status at all, testifying to the huge cultural influence of French throughout the world, and obviously in particular in Europe.
The Académie Française: Staunch Guardian of the French Language
What is the Mission of the Académie Française?
In the Académie Française, French has a uniquely powerful central authority whose task it is “to give our language definite rules and to make it pure, eloquent, and capable of dealing with art and science”. It is responsible for regulating French grammar, spelling and literature.
What is the Membership of the Académie Française?
Originally founded by the Famous Cardinal Richelieu in 1635, the Académie Française is always composed by 40 members, called “les Immortels” (The Immortals), who are elected by the existing members. Membership is typically for life.
Over time, the membership of the Académie Française has included many famous literary figures such as Voltaire; Montesquieu; Victor Hugo; Alexandre Dumas, but also other eminent characters, such as the scientists Louis Pasteur and Louis de Broglie, the mathematician Henri Poincaré and 5 former French heads of state, including Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.
It also included one former foreign head of state, the Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal, who was also a poet, and elected to the Académie in 1983 as the first African Immortel.
Another interesting fact is that it is not a requirement for membership to be a native French speakers. Thus, for example, the current membership of the Académie includes the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa.
On a darker note, of the 742 Immortels elected, only 11 (yes, eleven!) have been women, with the writer Margerite Yourcenar the first to be elected as late as 1980.
Examples of Excessive Conservatism of the Académie Française
The Académie Française has become somewhat notorious for its excessive cultural conservatism, and its sometimes desperate and clearly futile rearguard actions are all too easy to ridicules. Amongst its recommendations that have made the news in recent decades are:
- Insisting on the male form of address “le Ministre” for female ministers, when even the French government itself started using the female form “la Ministre” in 1997
- Insisting on little used deliberately coined French equivalents of commonly used English loan words, such as “baladeur” (for Walkman), “jeu video de competition” (for e-sports) or “joueur-animateur en direct” (for streamer).
- Infamously opposing, in 2008, the French government’s proposal to protect certain minority regional languages, such as Flemish, Alsatian, Basque, Breton, Catalan, Corsican, Occitan, Gascon and Arpitan).
Celebrating UN French Language Day (Fête de la Langue Française)
The celebration of French Language Day coincides with the day in 1970 on which the International Organisation of La Francophonie, was founded at the conference of Niamey. This dual celebration underlines the international diversity of the French-speaking world, and the part it plays in multiculturalism.
Whether you’re a language professional or an enthusiast, if you want to honour French Language Day, here are some ideas:
- Learn new French words and expressions (the professional or industry terms are best).
- French films and/or television shows can be watched to help develop listening skills and understand the culture.
- Read French literature, ranging from classics to modern masterpieces, in order to enrich your vocabulary and comprehension.
- Free language exchange events, online or in-person, are available to practice French with native speakers.
- Celebrate and share your moments on social media using #FrenchLanguageDay and join in with the global community.
Conclusion
The United Nations French Language Day is not simply a day to celebrate a language, but to acknowledge the strength of linguistic diversity in promoting global understanding and cooperation. For those working in the language industry, this month is reminder of the importance of our work when it comes to celebrating and connecting cultures across geographic boundaries.
So as we move forward, let us remember this day and allow ourselves to live the joy of learning, sharing, and celebrating the French language and its cultural heritage. And in doing so, we add to an ever closer and more collaborative world, one word at a time. The French language, with its long history and global reach, remains a powerful tool for cultural exchange and international cooperation. As we come together to celebrate and encourage the use of French, we are doing more than just paying homage to its history in our increasingly multilingual world — we are securing its future, too.
About the Author
Eric Fixmer
Eric is the Managing Director and founder of Rosetta Translation. Originally from Luxembourg, he holds a PhD in phonetics from Cambridge University and he started Rosetta in 2004, leading the company from his living room to being a leading international provider of language services with offices in Europe, Asia and America… Read Full Bio
