Latin vs Spanish
Latin is an ancient language spoken by the Romans and is considered the progenitor of the Romance languages, including Spanish. Other Romance languages include Portuguese, French, Italian, and Romanian. While Latin is now mostly limited to academia and considered a dead language, it still holds a significant place in the minds of people. There are several similarities between Latin and Spanish, as well as differences that will be discussed in this article.
Latin
Latin is an ancient language that was spoken by soldiers, traders, and common people during the times of the Romans and the Roman Empire. There was a refined version of the language spoken by the upper classes in the Roman Empire. The form spoken by the masses came to be known as Vulgar Latin, while the one spoken by the upper classes was called Classical Latin. Latin is believed to have originated in the Italian peninsula and is classified as an Italic language.
Spanish
Spanish is believed to have originated in the Castile region of Spain. It is a major world language spoken by more than 400 million people, second only in number to Mandarin. Spanish is also an official language at the United Nations, reflecting its global importance. The language is thought to have evolved from several Latin dialects spoken in the Iberian region. Spanish gained prominence in the kingdom of Castile and eventually became a widespread language spoken in a large area. The language has been influenced by Arabic and Basque languages and was spread to the Americas and Africa with the expansion of the Spanish Empire. This is why Spanish is the most widely spoken and understood language in the Western world.
Key Takeaways
- Spanish evolved from several Latin dialects spoken in the Iberian region in the 9th century.
- Latin is considered the progenitor of the Spanish language, although Spanish has also been influenced by Arabic and Basque languages.
- Latin flourished during the Roman Empire and is now considered a dead language, while Spanish is a modern language spoken and understood by more than 400 million people.
