What is the relation between Latin, English, and Spanish?

Question

Why is there such a similarity between certain words in English, Spanish, and Latin? I know that all of they're origins are Latin. But could someone fill me in please?

Answer 1

Spanish is derived from Latin. English is not. English is a Germanic language. But the Catholic church had a huge cultural and linguistic influence on England, and the priests spoke Latin. Also, England was invaded by the Normans (French) in 1066, and they brought French as the language of choice among the ruling class. French is also derived from Latin.

Right, a lot more of our latin words come from French than from latin. - rabbitwho, Dec 11, 2011

http://www.sarahwoodbury.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/601px-Origins_of_English_PieChart.svg_.png I should say a lot more of our every day words! - rabbitwho, Dec 11, 2011

It's funny that there are much much more words from Latin in English than from actual old/middle English.. That explains why it's much easier to understand a bit of Latin than a bit of Old English! - rabbitwho, Dec 11, 2011

Answer 2

That's why (partly) legal language and writing in English is such a mess. You end up using words from two or more languages (Latin , French and Anglo-Saxon) for the same concept: like "breaking and entering" (English/French), "fit and proper" (English/French), "lands and tenements" (English/French), "will and testament" (English/Latin).