International Mother Language Day is observed annually on February 21 by the United Nations to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism.

The day highlights the importance of mother tongues in education, the preservation of cultural heritage, and the promotion of inclusion. It also underscores the role of language in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Recognizing and supporting mother languages is essential to achieving equitable access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

According to Wikipedia a first language (L1), also known as a native language, native tongue, or mother tongue, is the language a person is exposed to from birth or acquires during the critical period of early childhood. In some contexts, however, the terms “native language” or “mother tongue” may refer to the language associated with a person’s ethnic group rather than the language they first learned or use most fluently.