Languages of the World

The Great Consonant Shift of Romance Languages

Why does the Latin word for 'one hundred' (centum, 'kentum') sound so different in Italian (cento), French (cent), and Spanish…

5 months ago

Sardinian: The Living Echo of Latin

Often called the most conservative Romance language, Sardinian is a true linguistic time capsule. Journey to this Mediterranean island to…

5 months ago

The Source of the Nasal Twinge in French & Portuguese

What gives French and Portuguese their characteristic nasal sound? It’s not just a funny way of saying 'n' or 'm'—it's…

5 months ago

Ladino: The Echo of 15th-Century Spanish

When the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, they carried their language with them, creating a linguistic time capsule.…

5 months ago

The Hidden Verb in the Romance Future Tense

Did you know the future tense in languages like French and Spanish is a linguistic fossil? It didn't evolve from…

5 months ago

Ser vs. Estar: The Story of a Latin Verb Split

Why do Spanish and Portuguese have two verbs for "to be"? This grammatical puzzle, a familiar hurdle for learners, isn't…

5 months ago

Romanian: A Latin Island in a Slavic Sea

While its heart beats with the rhythm of Latin, the Romanian language wears a coat woven from Slavic threads. Geographically…

5 months ago

The Lost Gender: What Happened to Latin’s Neuter?

Classical Latin had three grammatical genders, but its modern descendants like Spanish and French only have two. This article investigates…

5 months ago

Why Can’t We Understand Chaucer’s English?

Ever tried to read Chaucer and felt like you were deciphering a foreign language? You're not alone. This post goes…

5 months ago

Why Do Old Movies Sound So Weird?

Ever wonder why stars like Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant spoke with that peculiar, half-British accent in old movies? This…

5 months ago

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