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What languages contribute to Spanish?

Spanish, as a Romance language, descends ultimately from Latin, the language of the Roman Empire. However, its evolution over the centuries has been influenced by a variety of other languages:

1. Indigenous Languages:

* Arabic: During the Muslim rule of the Iberian Peninsula, Arabic words and grammatical structures entered Spanish, particularly in the south.

* Mozarabic: This Romance language, spoken by Christians under Muslim rule, also contributed to Spanish vocabulary.

* Native American Languages: In the Americas, Spanish absorbed words from various indigenous languages, particularly in Mexico and South America.

2. Germanic Languages:

* Visigothic: The Germanic Visigoths invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century, leaving their mark on Spanish vocabulary and grammar.

* Frankish: During the Frankish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, some words and grammatical structures entered the language.

* German: Direct influence from German is minimal, but some words entered Spanish through other languages, like French.

3. Other Romance Languages:

* French: Due to historical ties with France, French words and grammatical structures found their way into Spanish.

* Portuguese: Sharing a common Latin root, Spanish and Portuguese have influenced each other throughout history.

4. Other Influences:

* Greek: Greek, through Latin, has contributed to the vocabulary of many Romance languages, including Spanish.

* Hebrew: A small number of Hebrew words, particularly related to religion, have entered Spanish.

* English: In recent times, English has contributed significantly to Spanish vocabulary, especially in technical and scientific fields.

It's important to remember that the influence of these languages varies geographically within the Spanish-speaking world. For example, the influence of Arabic is more pronounced in Andalusian Spanish than in other dialects.

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