* British colonialism: The expansion of the British Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries spread English to vast territories around the world.
* Economic and technological power: The rise of the United States as a global superpower and the dominance of English in industries like technology, finance, and media have further cemented its position.
* International organizations: The use of English as the primary working language of many international organizations, such as the United Nations, has also contributed to its spread.
While there's no formal ranking, Mandarin Chinese and Hindi are often considered to be the languages with the most native speakers worldwide, potentially challenging English's dominance in the future.
It's important to remember that "global language" is a fluid concept, and the future of English's dominance is not guaranteed.