Today, February 21, marks International Mother Language Day, an annual global observance first proclaimed at the 1999 General Conference of the UNESCO. The day has been celebrated worldwide since 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, encourage multilingualism, and support the preservation of mother tongues.

To commemorate the occasion, the Boksburg Advertiser invited a few local residents to share funny or commonly used phrases that are best understood within their own languages – expressions that often lose their flavour when translated.

Here are some of the phrases they shared:

We’d love to hear from you too – share your favourite word or phrase in the comments below and tell us what makes it special.

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