History of French

French began as the Latin spoken in Gaul after Rome's conquest, gradually changing as local dialects mixed with Latin. These early regional speech forms are called Vulgar Latin.

When the Franks took over in the 5th century, their Germanic language added vocabulary and helped shape Old French's grammar and sounds. Frankish rulers also promoted Latin literacy.

Old French developed between the 9th and 13th centuries and is known from poems and legal texts. It was a time of regional dialects and the rise of courts that used French for administration.

From the 14th to 16th centuries, French became more standardized under royal influence and the Renaissance brought new words from Latin and Italian. Printing helped fix the language in its new form.

Modern French took shape in the 17th century with the Académie Française enforcing rules and the language spreading through administration, literature, and education. Colonialism extended French worldwide.

French remains a global language with many regional varieties. It continues to evolve through media, technology, and contact with other tongues, balancing tradition and innovation.

French grew from Latin in Gaul, was shaped by Frankish and regional influences, and became standardized through royal and academic efforts. Its history is reflected in the language we speak today.