Fascinating French Language History: From Latin Roots to Global Reach

Here are some facts about the French language you may not have known before now. One, French evolved from Latin. Two, French is one of the official languages of 35+ international organizations (with the lofty list including the European Union and the United Nations).

However, French didn't just wake up one day and become the global language of diplomacy. It had to fight for that title, evolving through centuries.

If you're among those who wonder how French evolved from Latin mumbo-jumbo to the elegant and melodic language it is today, buckle up. This French language history guide will take you on a time-traveling tour and reveal how our world came to be blessed with the French language.

How old is the French language?

The French language history is over 2,000 years. But the version we know and speak today began forming about 1,200 years ago (in the 9th century).

We know this thanks to the earliest known French writing, the Oaths of Strasbourg (Les Serments de Strasbourg), as they are dated 842 AD.

Image source: Wikipedia

The oath was a pact between two of Charlemagne’s heirs: Charles the Bald (who spoke a then-rapidly evolving form of Latin called Old French) and Louis the German (who spoke German). Each leader used the other’s language to ensure their soldiers understood. So, Charles swore in German and Louis swore in Old French.

This document (particularly the Old French parts) is very revealing about the origins of the French language. It reveals that French evolved from Latin and that this evolution began in the 9th century.

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Where did the French language come from?

The short answer is Latin. The longer answer is that the Oaths of Strasbourg indicate that French evolved from Latin because the French used in the text is clearly derived from the everyday spoken Latin of the Roman Empire.

See examples of French phrases in the text that are clearly from Latin:

But French's journey from Latin to the language we know today was not straightforward. It was very complex and shaped by invasions, migrations, and cultural transformation. Latin mixed with local languages and foreign influences eventually became the unique language we know today as French.

Now, let’s look at how French gradually evolved from Latin.

Latin roots and Roman influence in Gaul

The starting point of the history of French language is the Roman invasion of Gaul (which is modern-day France) in 50 BCE. After the Romans conquered and settled in Gaul, they forced Latin on the Gauls, as it was the empire’s official language.

Before long, Latin became the official language in Gaul. There was the classical Latin used in administration and literature. And there was the Vulgar Latin, which was the more relaxed form that common people actually spoke.

The French language we have today originated from that everyday version of Latin spoken by ordinary people. You’ll find many French roots directly traceable to Vulgar Latin.

Vulgar Latin to Gallo-Romance

The Gauls didn’t just forget their native Celtic languages when Latin was introduced to them. Instead, something wild happened. They started mixing their native Celtic languages with the everyday Latin they spoke.

By the time the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, the language spoken in Gaul was a mixture of Vulgar Latin and the Gaulish Celtic languages. And this is what linguists now refer to as Gallo-Romance. 

Many Celtic-origin words that were absorbed into early French have survived into modern French. For example, the name of the popular French city of Paris is derived from an influential Gaul tribe that was called Parisii. Nantes is also straight from Gaul. In the Gaul era, it was called Portus Namnetum (Port of the Namnetes) after the local Gaulish tribe, the Namnetes.

But the Gallo-Romance era in French’s development did much more than add Celtic-origin words into spoken Latin. There were several phonetic shifts, resulting in the emergence of new sounds, ultimately leading to the development of a distinct Romance language. These included:

• Palatization or softening of hard Latin sounds. For example, the Latin “ca” was softened to “cha,” such that the Latin “capra” became chèvre (goat).
• Dropping of Latin endings. For example, “lupus became loup (wolf).
• Nasalization of vowels followed by a nasal consonant (n/m). For example, bonum became bon (good).

Germanic influences from Frankish invasions

After the Roman Empire fell, Germanic tribes, such as the Franks, invaded and settled in Gaul. Like the Romans before them, they also brought their language, adding new words and sounds to the early French language. 

For example, the French word guerre (war) comes from the Frankish werra. Also, the word blanc (white) comes from the Frankish blank. Phonetically, the French use of /ʒ/ and /ʃ/ sounds (as in journal and chef), the development of the French "r" (Uvular /ʁ/), and the acceptance of consonant clusters (such as “Fr“ in French) are traceable to Germanic influences.

With these Germanic influences, the Gallo-Romance language gradually evolved into what is known as Old French.

Key periods in the history of the French language

Key periods define the evolution of French from Latin as follows:

Old French period (9th-14th centuries)

When Latin became the dominant language in Gaul, the locals did not maintain the language as they received it. They mixed the Latin they spoke with their local Celtic languages. They also mixed it with the Germanic tongues that the Franks introduced later. This language mixture resulted in a distinct language known today as Old French.

Old French was used between the 9th and 14th centuries. Early works of French literature were written in this language. And this includes the famous La Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland). Old French had many regional dialects, but the langue d’oïl spoken in northern France was the most dominant.

Middle French period (14th-16th centuries)

The Renaissance (14th-17th centuries) contributed to the transformation of Old French into Middle French.

Classical Latin and Greek texts were discovered during this period. Scholars began to imitate these works, resulting in many Latin and Greek words making it into the French language. An example is philosophie (philosophy), which came from the Greek word philosophia.

The French language was also standardized in this period. It began in 1539 when King Francis I signed the Ordonnance de Villers-Cotterêts to make French the official language. Just like that, French replaced Latin as the language for legal and administrative documents. With French now the national language, the government started regularizing sentence structures. This reduced dialectal variations, making the language more standard.

It was in this period that the printing press was invented. And with it, French texts were printed and distributed widely. This led to the spread of the language, reinforcing French spelling and grammar.

Classical French period (17th-18th centuries)

Between the 17th and 18th centuries, Classical French emerged. This was the refined and codified form of the language.

It all started with the establishment of the Académie Française (the French Academy) in 1635. The academy prescribed grammar, which the French government enforced to ensure clarity and elegance in its usage.

French began to become a symbol of sophistication, and its influence expanded across Europe.

Modern French period (19th century — present)

The push for the globalization of the French language started in the 19th century. This was largely due to colonization because the French government introduced the language to the colonies it established around the world.

During this time, the French language absorbed words from English and other languages.

• English-origin words in French include "le weekend," "snob," and "shopping."
• Italian-origin words in French include "balcon" and "opéra".

Additionally, some grammar was simplified, and this helped the French language adapt to modern life.

French across the world

Today, French is a global language. It is the 5th most spoken language in the world and the only language (aside from English) spoken on all inhabited continents. 

French is an official language in 29 countries. These include France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Canadian province of Quebec, several West and Central African countries, such as Senegal and the Ivory Coast, as well as island nations in the Caribbean and Oceania, including Haiti and Vanuatu.

French is the native language of over 77 million people. It is spoken by over 300 million people worldwide. Also, over 220 million people are learning French as a second language, making it the second most-studied foreign language (after English).

French words have even been absorbed into other languages. You'll find French words in English (such as "déjà vu" and "résumé"), Spanish (such as collage and restaurante), and Italian (such as gilet).

What are the major French dialects? 

There are several flavors of the French language as it has been influenced by regional languages. The major ones are:

• Metropolitan French: The standard French spoken in France.
• Québécois or Canadian French: French from Quebec, Canada, characterized by its unique pronunciation and colorful slang.
• Acadian French: Spoken in parts of Canada and Louisiana.
• African French: A French spoken in many African countries that infuses local languages and cultures.
• Caribbean French: A vibrant French spoken in Haiti and the Caribbean.

What are the key characteristics of the French language?

Now, let’s look at some of the characteristic elements that make French beautiful (and sometimes feared by those learning to speak French). These include:

• Accents: French uses five different accent marks (which are those weird marks you see on some French alphabets). These accents can change the pronunciation or meaning of words. For example, the Accent aigu (acute) in "école" makes the "e" sound like [e] (as in "ay"). But the Accent grave (grave) in "père" makes the "e" more open: [ɛ] (like "bed").
• Gendered nouns: All French nouns have a gender. For example, a book is masculine (le livre) but a table is feminine (la table).
• Silent letters: Many French words have silent consonants. Examples include the "s" in "fils" (son) or the "t" in "chat" (cat).
• Verb conjugation patterns: French verbs are extensively conjugated. And regular and irregular verbs follow different patterns. For example, the verb "to speak" is "parler," but conjugation pattern changes depending on who is speaking, as follows: "je parle" (I speak), "tu parles" (you speak), "nous parlons" (we speak).
• Nasal vowels. French uses nasal vowel sounds, produced by letting air pass through the nose. Examples include "sɑ̃" in "sans" (without) and "pɛ̃" in "pain" (bread).
• Distinctive "r" sound: French uses a guttural "r" sound, which is pronounced at the back of the throat. An example is "rue" (street), pronounced [ʁy].
• Formal vs informal "you": French uses two forms of "you." The first,"Tu," is used in casual chats with friends and family. An example: Tu travailles aujourd’hui ? (Are you working today?). However, the second, "vous," is used in formal settings to show respect or when referring to a group of people. An example: Monsieur, vous travaillez avec l’Office québécois de la langue française? (Sir, do you work with the Office of the French Language in Quebec?)
• Musical rhythm: French has even stress and smooth transitions between words, making it sound melodic.

The beauty of French with Promova

The characteristics of the French language discussed above can make learning the language challenging. However, learning French with the Promova platform can make it easier and more enjoyable.

Here’s why Promova is very effective in helping you improve your French language skills:

• Bite-sized interactive lessons: Promova French lessons are short and engaging, allowing you to learn effectively without feeling overwhelmed or bored.
• AI-powered role-play chats: These help you practice conversations in real-life scenarios, such as visiting a doctor, talking with HR, online dating, and more.
• Books: Including readings from classics like Le Petit Prince or Jane Eyre. 
• Individual approach: Promova provides a personalized learning plan that allows you to choose and stick to a comfortable learning pace.
• Cross-platform access: You can learn anytime, anywhere, using the website or the Promova app.
• Progress tracking: Promova online French classes include tools to monitor your learning journey. You can use interactive dashboards to track your progress and see how far you’ve come.

Takeaway: Improve your French language skills with Promova

Examining the history of the French language reveals that it underwent a challenging transformation to become the elegant and romantic language it is today. Starting from Vulgar Latin, it first evolved into Gallo-Romance, then into Old French, before developing into the modern French spoken today.

Want to learn French so you can communicate with French language speakers or immerse yourself fully in French culture? Promova is a one-stop solution for all your French language needs. Join Promova online French classes today!