Did You Know? Italy
Although no one speaks Latin as an everyday language anymore, it’s far from extinct.
It is one of the official languages of the Holy See. It is used in papal documents, official communications, and liturgical ceremonies. You can find over a million books and manuscripts in Latin at the Vatican Library.
Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian all evolved directly from Latin. Even English contains thousands of Latin-derived words, especially in science, law, medicine, and government.
Walk through Rome today and you’ll still see Latin inscriptions carved into churches, monuments, and public buildings—silent reminders of an empire whose language helped shape the modern world.
In many ways, every time we use words like video, animal, or formula, we’re speaking a little Latin.
Question: Can you think of a Latin word or phrase that you still hear today?
Related Articles:
Join us every day as we explore a fascinating fact, untold story, or remarkable piece of Italy’s history and culture. Whether your family came from Italy, you’ve traveled there, or you dream of visiting one day, this year-long journey is your daily passport to the heart of Italy. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X (formerly Twitter). You can subscribe for free by filling out the form below to get it sent to your email.
Discover more from Molto Italiano
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.