Here are 15 of the oldest languages in the world, including 12 that are still spoken today:
Sumerian – An ancient Mesopotamian language, now extinct.
Egyptian – The language of ancient Egypt, with remnants surviving in Coptic.
Akkadian – A Semitic language spoken in Mesopotamia, now extinct.
Elamite – Spoken in ancient Iran, now extinct.
Tamil – A Dravidian language still spoken by millions in India, Sri Lanka, and beyond.
Sanskrit – An ancient Indian language, still used in religious and scholarly contexts.
Greek – Continuously spoken for over 3,000 years.
Chinese – Mandarin and other dialects descend from an ancient linguistic tradition.
Hebrew – Revived from ancient roots and spoken widely today.
Aramaic – An ancient Semitic language, still spoken in small communities.
Arabic – Originating in the Arabian Peninsula and still widely spoken.
Latin – Though extinct as a spoken language, it lives on in liturgy and academia.
Persian (Farsi) – Continuously spoken for over 2,500 years in Iran and beyond.
Georgian – A South Caucasian language with ancient origins, still spoken.
Irish Gaelic – One of the oldest Celtic languages, still in use today.
These languages showcase humanity’s linguistic and cultural evolution over millennia.