What Are Romance Languages ? | Best Reviews What Are Romance Languages ? We enjoy learning Romance languages. However, despite the rise in worldwide importance of other languages, French, Spanish, and Italian continue to be among the most loved foreign linguistics for English speakers to learn. Many of us associate the Romance languages with the best of Europe, and we believe Venetian canals and the Eiffel Tower, idyllic wine farms, sun-kissed Mediterranean shoreline, Córdoba tapas, and Tuscan olive groves. We detect the aromas of espresso and baguettes, fragrant herbs, and a hearty tomato sauce. We picture ourselves strolling past street musicians and sidewalk cafés. However, even this variety is only a tiny part of the story. The Romance languages are found worldwide, not just in Europe, and their history is as colorful, complex, and fascinating as the cultures they represent.
What are Romance languages, and what do they mean? The actual number is controversial due to definitional issues. The five most major Romance languages, which have national language status, are Spanish (538 million speakers worldwide), French (277 million), Portuguese (252 million), Italian (68 million), and Romanian (25 million). They are known as Romance languages because they arose from the Romans, who spoke Latin and spread it throughout Europe. Vulgar Latin is the source of all Romance languages.