French Language Day is globally celebrated every March 20 to honor the language and culture that enjoy profound importance in 29 different countries across the world.
The United Nations (UN) designated the 20th day of March as French Language Day to commemorate the founding of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, an organization embodying all countries and regions of the world where people speak French.
Here are the key reasons why it is celebrated:
Alongside English, French is one of the first working languages used by the United Nations (UN).
It is one of the six official languages currently in use by the UN.
League of Nations, a worldwide intergovernmental organization committed to maintaining world peace, also uses French as one of its official languages.
The French language is the fourth most widely spoken first language in European Union (EU).
The French language doesn't only signify business and commerce at the international forefront, it also represents friendship and diplomacy.
To celebrate the charm of this language this French Language Day, here are some beautiful French proverbs, courtesy of FluentU:
Qui vivra verra: The widely used proverb means, "He/she who lives, shall see." The proverb is used when the result of some actions is unpredictable.
L’habit ne fait pas le moine: The proverb typically means that one doesn’t become a monk by simply wearing the designated robe. Instead, it’s their pure intentions that make them one.
Petit a petit, l’oiseau fait son nid: This proverb translates to English as, "Little by little, the bird makes its nest." The phrase suggests that patience and perseverance are the key aspects for an individual to reap success.
Qui court deux lievres a la fois, n’en prend aucun: This proverb translates to English as, "Who runs after two hares at the same time, catches none." It tells people that an individual must focus on one job at a time because they are most likely to experience failure when they attempt to juggle multiple tasks at a given time.
Quand on a pas ce que l’on aime, il faut aimer ce que l’on a: The proverb roughly translates to English as, "When one doesn’t have the things that one loves, one must love what one has." Alternatively, this phrase means, "Want what you have and you’ll have what you want." It highlights the importance of cherishing the things that one has and be grateful to go for.
