The history of French is the story of how Latin, the language of the Roman Empire, transformed over centuries into the modern language spoken by millions worldwide. Along the way, French absorbed influences from other languages, played a key role in European politics, and spread across the globe through colonization.

Origins

French began as a regional dialect of Latin spoken in the area of Gaul (modern France) after the Roman conquest around 50 BCE. This early form is called Vulgar Latin, the everyday speech of common people, soldiers, and settlers.

Gaulish influence: The Celtic language of the Gauls contributed some vocabulary and sounds.
Germanic influence: After the fall of Rome, Frankish tribes introduced new words and altered pronunciation.
Regional dialects: Old French developed in the north, while Occitan and other Romance languages appeared in the south.

Old French (9th to 13th centuries)

Old French emerges from the Latin spoken in northern Gaul. The first significant written texts appear, including legal documents and epic poetry like The Song of Roland.

Feudal society: French was the language of knights, nobles, and courts.
Norman Conquest (1066): French became the ruling language of England's elite, influencing Middle English.
Standardization begins: The dialect of Paris (Francien) gains prestige.

Middle French (14th to 17th centuries)

This period sees greater standardization, especially with the advent of printing in the 15th century. French becomes the language of the royal court and government.

Renaissance: Borrowings from Latin and Italian enrich vocabulary.
Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts: King Francis I mandates the use of French in official documents, replacing Latin.
Grammar and spelling: More systematic rules are developed.

Which technological advancement in the 15th century helped spread standardized French?

Handwriting

Printing

Telegraph

Radio

Printing

The invention of the printing press allowed for the mass production of texts, spreading standardized French spelling and grammar across the country.

Modern French (17th century to present)

The Académie Française is founded in 1635 to "fix" the language. French becomes a global lingua franca of diplomacy, science, and culture.

th-19th centuries: French spreads to colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Asia.
th century: Radio, cinema, and education promote standard French, but regional languages decline.
Today: French is spoken on five continents and is one of the official languages of the UN and the EU.

Summary

The history of French is a journey from a regional Latin dialect to a global language. Along the way, it absorbed influences, survived political upheavals, and became a vehicle for some of the world’s greatest literature and ideas.

Résumé de l’histoire du français : C’est le parcours d’un dialecte latin régional devenu une langue mondiale.

Summary of the history of French: It spread only through traders in Asia.

Summary of the history of French: It is the journey of a regional Latin dialect that became a global language.

Summary of the history of French: It was an isolated language that never changed.

Summary of the history of French: It was created in the 20th century by scholars.

Summary of the history of French: It is the journey of a regional Latin dialect that became a global language.

The history of French traces the transformation of a regional Latin dialect into a global language, highlighting its evolution and widespread influence.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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