diff --git a/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md b/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
index 6e6beab4b40f..b4a40de736c4 100644
--- a/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
+++ b/book/src/generated/typable-cmd.md
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 | `:tutor` | Open the tutorial. |
 | `:goto`, `:g` | Go to line number. |
 | `:set-language`, `:lang` | Set the language of current buffer. |
+| `:show-language` | Show the language of current buffer. |
 | `:set-option`, `:set` | Set a config option at runtime.<br>For example to disable smart case search, use `:set search.smart-case false`. |
 | `:get-option`, `:get` | Get the current value of a config option. |
 | `:sort` | Sort ranges in selection. |
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
index 4e1ac0da9a9c..1b48b8fb1f44 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs
@@ -1261,6 +1261,25 @@ fn language(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn show_current_language(
+    cx: &mut compositor::Context,
+    _args: &[Cow<str>],
+    event: PromptEvent,
+) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    if event != PromptEvent::Validate {
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
+    let doc = doc_mut!(cx.editor);
+    let lang = if let Some(lang) = doc.language_id() {
+        Cow::Owned(format!("Current language of buffer: {}", lang))
+    } else {
+        Cow::Borrowed("No language for current buffer")
+    };
+    cx.editor.set_status(lang);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 fn sort(cx: &mut compositor::Context, args: &[Cow<str>], event: PromptEvent) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     if event != PromptEvent::Validate {
         return Ok(());
@@ -1906,6 +1925,13 @@ pub const TYPABLE_COMMAND_LIST: &[TypableCommand] = &[
             fun: language,
             completer: Some(completers::language),
         },
+        TypableCommand {
+            name: "show-language",
+            aliases: &[],
+            doc: "Show the language of current buffer.",
+            fun: show_current_language,
+            completer: None,
+        },
         TypableCommand {
             name: "set-option",
             aliases: &["set"],