A Global Recognition for the Greek Language
We are proud as a school that has taught and promoted the Greek language since 1972 to share this historic news: UNESCO has declared 9 February as World Greek Language Day.
This important step was taken during the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (October 30 – November 13, 2025). The Executive Board had already recommended this date earlier in the year.
Why UNESCO Honoured the Greek Language
UNESCO’s decision celebrates the Greek language’s unique place in world culture. Greek is the oldest continuously spoken and written language in Europe, with over 4,000 years of oral and 3,500 years of written history.
It is also a language of great thinkers such as Homer, Plato, Aristotle, and Hippocrates. Their works shaped philosophy, science, and art, influencing how the world understands knowledge and reason.
Greek words like democracy, philosophy, dialogue, theory, and music appear in many languages today. This global presence shows how deeply Greek ideas continue to inspire modern life.
The Greek alphabet was another great achievement. The Greeks introduced vowels, making writing clearer and easier to read. Galileo Galilei once called the Greek alphabet “man’s greatest discovery.”
Greek Language: A Global Legacy
Greek became the first international language during the Hellenistic and Byzantine eras. It connected people from different regions and supported the spread of ideas, science, and faith. Later, the Renaissance and Enlightenment revived its study, making Greek the base of modern education and thought.
Today, Greek still shapes global terminology, especially in medicine, mathematics, and technology. The Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, a digital archive, includes over 12,000 Greek texts written by 4,000 authors — evidence of an enduring cultural heritage.
UNESCO’s Broader Recognition of Greek Heritage
UNESCO has also recognized other treasures of Greek culture:
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The Derveni Papyrus (2015) and The Lead Tablets of the Dodona Oracle (2023) — listed in the Memory of the World Register.
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Byzantine Chant (2019) and the Polyphonic Caravan of Epirus (2020) — inscribed in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.
Celebrating 9 February: World Greek Language Day
As UNESCO’s proposal explains:
“World Greek Language Day highlights the Greek language’s role in the preservation and dissemination of human civilization and culture.”
The date, 9 February, also honours Dionysios Solomos, Greece’s national poet and author of the Hymn to Freedom.
We invite everyone to celebrate this day and explore the timeless beauty of Greek.
🔗 Read more on Greek News Agenda and on Unesco Digital Library
🔗 Explore our Greek language courses and Cultural programs in Athens