Definition & Meaning of "Proto-Indo-European"

What is "Proto-Indo-European"?

Proto-Indo-European (PIE) refers to the hypothetical ancient language believed to be the common ancestor of the Indo-European language family, which includes languages like English, Spanish, Hindi, and Russian. Spoken thousands of years ago, likely before 3000 BCE, Proto-Indo-European was never written down, but linguists have reconstructed parts of it by comparing similarities in modern and ancient Indo-European languages. By studying shared patterns in grammar, vocabulary, and sound changes, researchers have developed a model of what this early language might have looked like, helping to trace the origins of many languages spoken today.