Here's why:
* Latin is a dead language: It is no longer spoken as a native language, though it is studied for its historical and cultural importance. It was the language of the Roman Empire.
* Italian is a Romance language: It evolved from Vulgar Latin, the everyday language of the Roman people. This evolution happened over centuries and resulted in significant changes in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
* Significant Differences: Italian has a different pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary from Latin. While you might recognize some similarities in words, there are substantial differences that make them distinct languages.
Think of it like this: English and German are both Germanic languages, but they are not the same. They share some roots but have evolved independently. The same goes for Italian and Latin.