* The modern French language has been spoken in France for centuries, evolving from Vulgar Latin spoken by the Romans. While its origins can be traced back to the 9th century, it was around the 16th century that French began to solidify as a standard language.
* Before that, there were various dialects and languages spoken in France. For example, Occitan was spoken in the south, and there were many regional languages and dialects. The process of unifying these into a single "French" was long and complicated.
* The French language as we know it today is still evolving. It's constantly adapting to new vocabulary, usage patterns, and influences from other languages.
So, while French has been a significant language in France for a very long time, its evolution and standardization took place over centuries.