English is a global language spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide, either as a first or additional language. It’s used in international business, science, technology, diplomacy, media, and everyday communication across the globe.

The story of English is long and layered:

1. Old English (5th–11th centuries)

   • Brought to Britain by Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes).

   • Strongly influenced by Old Norse (due to Viking contact).

   • Looked and sounded very different from Modern English—closer to German.

2. Middle English (11th–15th centuries)

   • After the Norman Conquest (1066), French became the language of the ruling class.

   • English absorbed thousands of French words (especially in law, government, and culture).

   • This mix created a more flexible vocabulary.

3. Early Modern English (15th–17th centuries)

   • The invention of the printing press (1476) helped standardize spelling and grammar.

   • The Renaissance and translations of classical works enriched vocabulary.

   • Shakespeare’s works belong to this stage.

4. Modern English (17th century–today)

   • Expansion through trade, science, colonization, and technology spread English globally.

   • It has absorbed words from Latin, Greek, Hindi, Arabic, and many other languages.

   • Today, English exists in many varieties: British, American, Australian, Indian, Nigerian, and more.

👉 In short: English is a “hybrid” language, shaped by centuries of contact and change. That’s part of why it’s both rich and irregular—and why it has become such a flexible tool for global communication.