Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Talk Like Shakespeare Day is a playful invitation to speak a little more dramatically, quote a favorite line, and enjoy how expressive language can be.
Overview
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, celebrated annually on April 23rd, is an unofficial holiday that encourages participants to speak, write, and generally communicate using the language and stylistic flair reminiscent of William Shakespeare. Falling on the traditional date of his birth and death, it serves as a fun tribute to the Bard of Avon, inviting enthusiasts to sprinkle their speech with "thees" and "thous," "haths" and "doths," and a dash of poetic flourish, reminding all of his profound impact on the English language.
Origin and story
April 23rd is widely recognized as both William Shakespeare's birth date (1564) and death date (1616), making it a fitting day for this linguistic celebration.
Shakespeare is credited with coining or popularizing hundreds of words and phrases still in use today, such as 'eyeball,' 'swagger,' 'fashionable,' and 'in a pickle.'
Quick facts
- DateApril 23
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
You probably talk like Shakespeare more often than you realize — phrases like "break the ice" and "wear your heart on your sleeve" trace back to his plays, still in daily use over 400 years later.
Learn how many words he actually coined
Shakespeare's plays and poems contain the first recorded use of roughly 1,700 English words, created by turning nouns into verbs, adding prefixes and suffixes, and combining words that had never been paired before. Everyday words like "addiction," "fashionable," and "lonely" all trace back to his writing.
Spot his phrases in your own speech
Pick three Shakespearean words or phrases and challenge friends to use them naturally in conversation, then check the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust's own lists to see how many you already use without thinking.
Add some theater to the day
Host a mini dramatic reading night with short scenes or famous monologues, or watch a film adaptation and compare one scene to the original text.
Helpful resources: Shakespeare's Words (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust)
Fun facts
- April 23rd is widely recognized as both William Shakespeare's birth date (1564) and death date (1616), making it a fitting day for this linguistic celebration.
- Shakespeare is credited with coining or popularizing hundreds of words and phrases still in use today, such as 'eyeball,' 'swagger,' 'fashionable,' and 'in a pickle.'
- To participate, one might replace modern pronouns like 'you' with 'thou' (subject) or 'thee' (object) and use verbs like 'hath' (has) or 'doth' (does).
Sources and attribution
- Shakespeare's Words (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust)
- Shakespeare's Phrases (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
Continue your streak
Open one more holiday before you go to build daily momentum.
FAQ
- When is Talk Like Shakespeare Day?
- It is observed on April 23 each year.
- What is Talk Like Shakespeare Day?
- Talk Like Shakespeare Day, celebrated annually on April 23rd, is an unofficial holiday that encourages participants to speak, write, and generally communicate using the language and stylistic flair reminiscent of William Shakespeare. Falling on the traditional date of his birth and death, it serves as a fun tribute to the Bard of Avon, inviting enthusiasts to sprinkle their speech with "thees" and "thous," "haths" and "doths," and a dash of poetic flourish, reminding all of his profound impact on the English language.
- How do people celebrate Talk Like Shakespeare Day?
- People usually celebrate by quoting favorite lines, performing short readings, using playful old-English phrasing, or hosting literature-themed gatherings.
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