International Translation Day

The date carries sixteen centuries of history. September 30 is the feast day of St. Jerome, the scholar considered the patron saint of translators. Born in north-eastern Italy of Illyrian ancestry, Jerome became fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, and he took on a monumental task: translating most of the Bible into Latin from the original languages, making sacred texts accessible to far more readers. He died on September 30 in the year 420, and his feast day has been the translators’ day ever since. The Bible he translated went on to become the world’s most translated document, rendered into 636 languages.

The modern celebration began with the translators themselves. The International Federation of Translators (FIT), founded in 1953, has promoted St. Jerome’s Day celebrations since its establishment. In 1991, FIT launched the idea of an officially recognized International Translation Day to show solidarity with the worldwide translation community and to promote translation as a profession that was becoming increasingly essential in the era of globalization. What started as a professional in-joke about a patron saint grew into a genuine global movement.

Then the United Nations gave the day its official seal. On May 24, 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 71/288, declaring September 30 International Translation Day and recognizing the role of professional translation in connecting nations. The draft resolution was signed by eleven countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam. Its adoption was championed by FIT alongside organizations including the International Association of Conference Interpreters, Critical Link International, the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters, Red T, and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters. Translation had officially gone diplomatic.

Each year, the day gets its own theme from FIT, and the themes read like a mission statement for the profession. Recent themes include “Translation, shaping a future you can trust” for 2025, “Translation, an Art Worth Protecting: Moral and Material Rights for Indigenous Languages” for 2024, “Translation unveils the many faces of humanity” for 2023, “A World Without Barriers” for 2022, and “United in Translation” for 2021. The yearly focus keeps the celebration current while the core message stays constant: translators bridge the gaps that language leaves behind.

The United Nations celebrates in its own delightful way. Every year since 2005, the UN has held the St. Jerome Translation Contest, inviting its staff and students from partner universities to compete with translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and German. Around the world, translator associations mark the day by awarding diplomas to young translators, welcoming new members into professional associations, organizing seminars and symposiums, and running public awareness campaigns about a profession that is often misunderstood. A great translation is nearly invisible, which is exactly why its makers deserve a visible day.

Think about how much of your day runs on translation without you noticing. The app on your phone, the subtitles on last night’s show, the instruction manual in the box, the news from the other side of the world: all of it passed through a translator’s hands. International Translation Day pulls back the curtain on that invisible labor and throws it a party. On September 30, language professionals share their pride on social media, associations open their doors, and the rest of us get to say thank you in whatever language we speak best.

How the day is celebrated depends on where you look, and that variety is part of the charm. Translator associations issue press releases suggesting activities like awarding diplomas to young translators or formally welcoming new members into the profession. Universities hold ceremonies and translation competitions, like the humor translation contest where students rendered songs, poems, cartoons, and sitcom sketches into multiple languages. Individual linguists flood social media with posts celebrating their craft and their colleagues. The goal behind all of it is the same: to raise public awareness of a profession that is sometimes misunderstood, and to give its practitioners a moment of well-earned pride.

THE STORY BEHIND INTERNATIONAL TRANSLATION DAY

📖 St. Jerome, the Original Translator
September 30 is the feast day of St. Jerome, the patron saint of translators. Fluent in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, he translated most of the Bible into Latin, and he died on September 30 in the year 420. The Bible he translated became the world’s most translated document, rendered into 636 languages.

🌎 FIT Started the Celebration in 1953
The International Federation of Translators, founded in 1953, has promoted St. Jerome’s Day celebrations since its establishment. In 1991, FIT launched the idea of an officially recognized International Translation Day to show solidarity with the worldwide translation community and promote the profession.

⚖ The United Nations Joined In
On May 24, 2017, the UN General Assembly passed resolution 71/288, declaring September 30 International Translation Day. Eleven countries signed the draft resolution, and the adoption was championed by FIT with the International Association of Conference Interpreters, Critical Link International, the International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters, Red T, and the World Association of Sign Language Interpreters.

🏆 The St. Jerome Contest
Since 2005, the United Nations has held the annual St. Jerome Translation Contest, rewarding outstanding translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and German. It celebrates multilingualism and the role of translators in multilateral diplomacy.

💬 Themes With a Mission
Each year FIT announces a theme, from 2025’s “Translation, shaping a future you can trust” to 2022’s “A World Without Barriers” and 2021’s “United in Translation.” The themes keep the celebration current while honoring translation’s timeless job: connecting worlds.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

🎓 Thank a Translator
Thank the linguists behind your favorite translated book, subtitled show, or multilingual app. Translators are everywhere in your daily life, and most of them never get a word of thanks.

🌐 Learn Five New Words
Pick a language you have always been curious about and learn five words in it today. Share them with a friend and celebrate the small thrill of being understood across a border.

📱 Share the Day
Post about the translation profession on social media and help raise awareness of the people who make global conversation possible. Shine a light on the invisible art.

Celebrate International Translation Day

On September 30, 2027, honor the word-bridgers. Thank a translator, learn a new word, and remember that every great translation is an act of connection across the beautiful barrier of language.