Which language did the Spanish originate from?

Spanish originated from Vulgar Latin, a spoken form of Latin that evolved in the Iberian Peninsula.

Here's a breakdown:

* Latin: The language spoken by the Romans, who conquered the Iberian Peninsula.

* Vulgar Latin: The everyday language of the Roman population, which differed from the formal, written Latin.

* Castilian: After the fall of the Roman Empire, different dialects of Vulgar Latin developed in the Iberian Peninsula. Castilian, spoken in the northern part of Spain, eventually became the dominant dialect.

* Spanish: As Castilian spread throughout Spain and its colonies, it evolved further, becoming the language we know today as Spanish.

So, while Spanish is directly descended from Castilian, it ultimately traces its roots back to Vulgar Latin.