Definition & Meaning of "Romance languages"

What are "Romance languages"?

Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family that evolved from Vulgar Latin, the spoken language of the Roman Empire. Major Romance languages include Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Romanian, and Catalan. These languages share common features in vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, reflecting their Latin origins. The Romance languages are typically characterized by a rich system of verb conjugation, gendered nouns, and a variety of word order patterns. Over time, they have developed unique regional characteristics due to historical, cultural, and social influences. The study of Romance languages provides insights into the linguistic evolution from Latin to modern languages and the cultural interactions within regions where these languages are spoken.