How Many Extinct Languages Are We Losing Each Year?

Languages are vanishing fast — one every two weeks. These extinct languages aren’t just words lost.

Author

Alex Milner
June 11, 2025

Losing a language means losing more than just words — it’s the loss of culture, memory, and identity. As the pace of language extinction accelerates, understanding what’s at stake becomes essential.

From the roots of globalisation to the quiet fading of ancient tongues, we uncover why languages vanish. This article shines a light on the urgent fight to preserve the world’s linguistic heritage.

Featured Article

How Many Extinct Languages Are We Losing Each Year?

How Many Extinct Languages Are We Losing Each Year?

Every two weeks, a language disappears forever — and with it, an irreplaceable piece of human culture. This article reveals the shocking pace of language extinction, why it’s happening, and what’s being done to stop it.

You’ll discover the key reasons languages die out, real-world stats, and inspiring efforts to bring endangered languages back to life.

If you care about cultural diversity, Indigenous rights, or global education, this is a must-read.

Language Learning Spotlight

The Best Alternatives to HelloTalk
Are you looking to learn languages using apps? If you’re someone who has used HelloTalk, but you’re not the biggest fan. So, the next best thing is to find an alternative.

Language Learning Tip

Memorising vocabulary in isolation leads to quick forgetting. Instead, anchor new words to real-life phrases, scenarios, and emotions. For example, instead of memorising “laufen” (to run), learn it as part of a phrase like “Ich laufe jeden Morgen im Park” (I run every morning in the park).

Why it matters:

  • Your brain retains language better when it’s tied to meaning and context.

  • You learn grammar naturally by seeing how words function in real sentences.

  • It boosts your fluency because you’re learning how native speakers talk.

Did You Know?

The Ainu language of Japan, once widely spoken by the Indigenous Ainu people, has no grammatical distinction between singular and plural, and doesn’t use gendered pronouns like “he” or “she.”

This reflects a worldview rooted in animism and equality, where people, animals, and nature are linguistically treated with the same level of respect. As the language nears extinction, so too does a unique way of understanding the world.

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