Where was the French language originally spoken?

The French language originated in the Île-de-France region, specifically around Paris, in the north-central region of France.

Here's a breakdown:

* Origins: French evolved from the *Langue d'Oil*, a group of Romance languages spoken in northern France. This language itself evolved from Vulgar Latin, spoken by the Roman soldiers and settlers in the area.

* Parisian Influence: Paris, as the capital of the growing French kingdom, played a crucial role in standardizing the language.

* Spread: Over time, Parisian French gradually spread to other parts of France, becoming the official language of the country.

So while the roots of the French language are in a specific region, it ultimately became the national language of France, influencing other languages and dialects in the process.