Oldest-languages-in-the-world

The 6 Oldest Languages in the World

Determining which language is the oldest is complex, as languages continually evolve and change over time. Therefore, origins and dates can be hard to track accurately.

However, with modern technology, we can estimate when different types of languages first came about and what they sounded like.

For example, we have found fossils of human jaws that are 50,000 years old. The shape of those jaws indicates that our first languages most likely consisted of long and short “a” sounds.

It’s also important to note that not all languages had a written form but a spoken tradition.

So, with that being said – which are the oldest languages in the world?

1. Tamil

Age: 5,000 years old

The earliest findings of Tamil are inscriptions on cave walls and pottery from 300 BC. These inscriptions were written in Tamil-Brahmi, a variation of Brahmi script.

Tamil is categorized into three periods:

  • Old Tamil (300 BC – 700)
  • Middle Tamil (700-1600)
  • Modern Tamil (1600 – present time)

Today, Tamil is the official language in Tamil Nadu (an Indian state), Sri Lanka, and Singapore.

2. Sanskrit

Age: 3500 years old

Sanskrit is one of the earliest documented languages in the world. The earliest form of Sanskrit is called Vedic Sanskrit and was found in the Rigveda, which is an old sacred text dating back to 1500 BCE to 1200 BCE.

That’s roughly 3,500 years ago, making Sanskrit one of the oldest languages in the world.

However, it’s important to note that Sanskrit existed as an oral tradition long before it was written down. It is believed that the language existed for centuries before it was written.

3. Chinese

Age: 3,270 years ago

The first examples of Old Chinese were inscriptions on oracle bones, dating back to around 1250 BCE. Today, there are many spoken varieties, with Standard Mandarin being the official language in China.

While the Chinese language has evolved since the Shang Dynasty, it maintains strong links to its ancient form.

4. Hebrew

Age: 3,000 years old

One of the oldest Hebrew inscriptions was found in Mount Ebal, West Bank, and is believed to be 3,200 years old. The artifact is a folded lead with an inscription that says, “You are cursed by the god yhw, cursed.”

Hebrew is one of the only, if not the only, language to be revived. Hebrew ceased to be a spoken language around 200 CE, as it was replaced by Aramaic. By 400 CE, it was only used for religious and literary purposes.

The language was then revived in the late 19th century, by Eliezer Ben-Yehuda. He advocated for Hebrew to become the national language of the Jewish people, which it also came to be.

Hebrew is the only example of a language with no native speakers that has successfully been revived and become a national language spoken by millions of people. Today, Modern Hebrew is the official language in Israel.

5. Latin

Age: 2,600 years old

Old Latin is thought to be the earliest forms of Latin, and was spoken around 700 BC. At its peak, it was the official language of the Roman Empire, but was also spoken in Western Europe and parts of Eastern Europe.

Latin is one of the most influential languages in world history. It had an enormous influence on European languages, especially Romance languages. Many English words have roots in the Latin language, particularly in legal, scientific, and academic vocabulary.

Latin is no longer spoken as a first language but is still taught in many schools and universities.

6. Greek

Age: 2,200 years old

Greek is one of the oldest languages in the world, with written evidence dating back to 1450 BC. The earliest finding was Linear B, which was a syllabic script that was written in Mycenaean Greek.

Proto-Greek is believed to be the very first version of Greek and dates back over 2,200 years.

Today, Greek is the official language in both Greece and Cyprus.

The oldest languages in the world

It’s hard to say which language is the oldest. However, most linguistics believe it to be either Tamil or Sanskrit.

Many dead languages had a spoken tradition but not a written one, making it difficult to determine their age.

According to our current research and evidence, these are the oldest languages in the world in no specific order:

  • Sanskrit
  • Tamil
  • Egyptian
  • Chinese
  • Greek
  • Latin
  • Hebrew
  • Farsi
  • Korean
  • Aramaic
  • Coptic