The language spoken in modern Rome is Italian, which is the official language of the city and Italy as a whole. Italian evolved from the Colloquial Latin of the Roman Empire and is the least divergent Romance language from Latin. In Rome, many locals also speak English, especially in tourism-related sectors like restaurants and hotels
. Historically, in Ancient Rome, the primary language was Latin. Latin was the language of administration, law, and the military in the Roman Empire's western regions. Greek was also widely spoken, especially among the educated elite and in the eastern parts of the empire, and was considered a secondary official language in Rome during certain periods. Vulgar Latin, the everyday spoken form of Latin, eventually evolved into the various Romance languages, including Italian
. In summary:
- Modern Rome: Italian is the official and main spoken language, with English commonly spoken in tourist areas
- Ancient Rome: Latin was the dominant language, with Greek also used, especially among the educated and in official contexts
