Spanish, like many other Romance languages, descended from Vulgar Latin, the spoken language of the Roman Empire. This is why Spanish shares so many cognates (words with a common ancestor) with other Romance languages like Italian, French, Portuguese, and Romanian.
While Latin is the dominant source, Spanish has also borrowed words from other languages throughout history, including:
* Arabic: Due to the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, Spanish absorbed words related to agriculture, science, and everyday life.
* Greek: Spanish has adopted Greek words for scientific and academic terms.
* Germanic languages: Words related to warfare and governance entered Spanish during the Visigothic and Germanic periods.
* Native American languages: Spanish adopted words from the indigenous languages of the Americas, especially in the areas of flora, fauna, and cultural practices.
It's important to note that while Latin provides the foundation for Spanish vocabulary, the language has evolved significantly since its Romance origins. Pronunciation, grammar, and even the meaning of some words have changed over time.