The Romans originally spoke Latin , which was the native language of the Roman people and the region of Latium where Rome was founded. Latin remained the primary language of imperial administration, legislation, and the military throughout the classical period of the Roman Empire
. Latin evolved over time and had different forms, including Old Latin, Classical Latin (used roughly from 75 BC to 200 CE), and Vulgar Latin (from about 200 CE onward), which varied by region and social context
. In addition to Latin, Greek was widely spoken, especially in the eastern parts of the Roman Empire, which had been heavily influenced by Hellenistic culture following Alexander the Great's conquests. Greek served as a lingua franca in the eastern Mediterranean and was commonly used among the educated elite, for diplomacy, and by the Christian Church. Many Romans, especially nobles and emperors, were bilingual in Latin and Greek
. Other local languages also persisted throughout the empire among common people, such as Aramaic, Punic, Coptic, and various Celtic languages, depending on the region
. In summary, the Romans primarily spoke Latin, especially in the western empire, while Greek was dominant in the eastern regions and among the educated classes. Latin was the core language of Roman identity and administration, with Greek playing a significant complementary role culturally and diplomatically
