What language is French derived from?

French is derived from Vulgar Latin, which is the common language spoken by the people of the Roman Empire, as opposed to the more formal and literary Latin.

Here's a breakdown:

* Latin was the language of the Roman Empire.

* Vulgar Latin was the spoken form of Latin, evolving over time with regional variations and influences.

* Romance Languages emerged from Vulgar Latin in different parts of the former Roman Empire. French is one of these Romance languages, alongside Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and others.

So, while French is ultimately rooted in Latin, it evolved from the everyday language of the people, not the formal written language of the Roman Empire.