diff --git a/src/containers/language-selector.jsx b/src/containers/language-selector.jsx
index c3f108efbe3315dd732a3b450479efddc7bec00d..fe94b8500ef2ab051e7f81b718d880c1f3b7caa4 100644
--- a/src/containers/language-selector.jsx
+++ b/src/containers/language-selector.jsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class LanguageSelector extends React.Component {
             children,
             ...props
         } = this.props;
+        document.documentElement.lang = this.props.currentLocale; //update the lang attribute of the html for screenreaders
         return (
             <LanguageSelectorComponent
                 onChange={this.handleChange}