Kyrgyz Language Day: the story behind 23 September

About the language · Updated 2026-09-17

Every year on 23 September Kyrgyzstan celebrates State Language Day. The date is no accident: on that day in 1989 Kyrgyz was first declared the state language. Here is the story behind the holiday, how it is celebrated — and the most honest way for a learner to join: by learning something new.

What happened on 23 September 1989

In September 1989 the Supreme Soviet of the Kirghiz SSR passed the Law on the State Language, making Kyrgyz the state language for the first time in its modern history. For a language that had been ceding public space to Russian for decades, it was a turning point: Kyrgyz returned to administration, education and official life.

Since then 23 September has been State Language Day. The status is anchored in the Constitution: Kyrgyz is the state language of the Kyrgyz Republic, while Russian holds official-language status.

What has changed since

The road was not straight: through the 1990s and 2000s the “language revival” was discussed more than practised. Real movement came later — with the Kyrgyztest assessment system, language requirements for civil servants, and more recently for teachers and medics, who must certify B1-level proficiency.

In parallel, organic interest has grown: Kyrgyz-language content, music, blogs and film dubbing. The language has stopped being “domestic” and sounds ever more confident in the cities — which makes learning it both more useful and easier: the environment finally helps.

How the day is celebrated

Around 23 September the country holds a nationwide dictation, recital contests and aityshes (improvised poetic duels of akyns), open lessons and school and university events. Media run features about the language, institutions hold Kyrgyz language weeks.

For a learner it is the best week of the year to step into the language environment: there are many events, they are open to everyone, and nobody expects perfection — on the contrary, any attempt to speak is met warmly.

Seven ways to join in as a learner

One: learn ten new phrases with audio — the phrasebook groups them by situation. Two: take the level test and fix your starting point. Three: congratulate a colleague or neighbour — Майрамыңыз менен! (“Happy holiday!”). Four: watch one video in Kyrgyz with subtitles.

Five: spend a day labelling household objects with Kyrgyz words — the phrase translator will supply them. Six: find a native speaker and say three phrases aloud — on 23 September it is especially fitting. Seven: start practising regularly — the demo lesson is open without sign-up, and 15–20 minutes a day beat any once-a-year marathon.