Languages
Europe is rich in languages with about 225 spoken indigenous languages. The main language families in the EU are Germanic, Romance, Slav, Baltic and Celtic. The EU institutions now have 20 official languages.

Many Europeans speak at least one other language as well as their mother tongue but during your travels in Europe, try using at least a few phrases of the local language when talking to local people. It will add colour to your experiences.

A European Day of Languages now takes place on 26 September, every year, to celebrate and encourage language learning. The slogan for this year is Pack an extra language in your luggage. It is never too late to learn a language and enjoy the opportunities it opens up.

There is more information about the languages spoken in Europe, the language skills of its people, and learning and teaching languages on the Commission's website for languages.