7 Ancient Languages Still Spoken Today

Dec 24, 2024

Sanskrit

Originating in ancient India, Sanskrit is the classical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, still used in religious and scholarly contexts.

Tamil

One of the longest-surviving classical languages, Tamil is spoken by millions in India, Sri Lanka, and Singapore and has a rich literary tradition.

Hebrew

An ancient Semitic language, Hebrew was revived as a spoken language in the 19th century and is now the official language of Israel.

Greek

With roots tracing back to the 8th century BCE, Modern Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus, evolving from its ancient counterpart.

Chinese

Chinese, with its distinct character system, includes several dialects like Mandarin and Cantonese, and has a history dating back over 3,000 years.

Arabic

A Semitic language with classical roots, Arabic is widely spoken across the Middle East and North Africa, with Modern Standard Arabic still used in formal contexts.

Latin

Although no longer spoken as a native language, Latin is still used in the Catholic Church, legal terminology, and scientific classification.

VIEW ALL

Read Next Story