Accelerate Action: Celebrating Polyglot Women on #IWD2025

As we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th, which recognises and honours the incredible accomplishments of women, I want to take this moment to highlight and celebrate polyglot women like Marie Curie. The stories of these remarkable women illustrate how multilingualism accelerates action by opening doors to global opportunities, facilitating advocacy, and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Whether through politics, science, entertainment, or sports, multilingual women are leading change and inspiring others to do the same. Let’s be inspired:

In the early 20th Century, a physicist and chemist, Marie Curie made history by becoming the first woman awarded a Nobel Prize and remains the only person ever to win two Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Beyond her groundbreaking scientific achievements, Curie was also a polyglot, speaking five languages fluently (Polish, French, English, German, and Russian!). Her linguistic abilities played a crucial role in fostering international scientific collaboration, proving that language can be a powerful tool for breaking barriers and driving progress.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Kato Lomb – A Trailblazer in Language Learning and Interpreting.

A Hungarian polyglot, is the second polyglot woman on my list. She was internationally recognised from the 1950s for her language skills and was one of the pioneers of simultaneous interpreting worldwide. She was a remarkable author and translator, fluent in sixteen languages and could interpret ten languages without preparation. Most languages she mastered were learned through self-study, and her profession as an interpreter led her to visit forty countries in five continents. Her best known book, “Polyglot”, which was published in 1970, played a key role as a guide on how to learn languages, and her legacy still inspires language enthusiasts worldwide.

Graça Machel -A Champion for Women and Children’s Rights.

She  is also a famous politician and humanitarian from Mozambique with polyglot skills. She is particularly known for her global advocacy for women’s and children’s rights. Graça speaks Portuguese, French, English, Spanish, Italian and Xitsonga. Her multilingual skills have cleared a path for her political and humanitarian achievements, allowing her to communicate across different regions and cultures.

Priya Anand – Breaking Barriers in the Film Industry.

Priya Anand, an Indian actress and model. She is fluent in English, Bengali, Tamil, Hindi, Spanish, Telugu and Marathi. Her exceptional language abilities have allowed her to reach various audiences across India, helping her build a diverse acting career. Her language skills have been significant for her success in the Indian film industry.

Shakira – A Global Icon with Multilingual Influence.

A famous Colombian singer and songwriter, who has won various awards in her singing career. She is also a polyglot, speaking Spanish,  English, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, Catalan, and French. Shakira’s multilingual skills are evident in her songs, engagement with her fans, and various interviews. These skills have also helped her connect with her audience, expand her collaborative opportunities, and broaden her cultural knowledge and understanding, making her one of the most internationally recognised pop stars.

Finally, we have Nadi Nadim, a doctor and professional footballer. Nadia, who is of Afghan origin, moved to Denmark as a refugee with her family when she was twelve. She is famous for her football skills and has won two league titles in the USA and France. She is also a polyglot in ten languages; Danish, Pashto, English, German, French, Dari, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, and Latin. Nadia’s multilingual skills have helped her navigate her career in football and as a doctor. She has also used them to promote sports and gender equality. Her life story has also been chronicled in a documentary and written in a book called “Mon Histoire” 

In conclusion, many #polyglot women, known and unknown, have achieved great success with their multilingual skills. Most have learned these languages by immersing themselves in different language environments, through formal education, self-study, or intermarriages. Multilingualism has proved to be a communication tool and a gateway to numerous opportunities. Like the above women and many more, let’s embrace learning new languages and celebrate multilingualism. Last but not least, happy International Women’s Day to all monolingual, bilingual, or multilingual women!

By Dorcus Mmbone