Why does English have so many Fre...

Why does English have so many French words?

Roz's Random Ramblings: Language, History, and Other Adventu... by Roz Hirch
S1 · E9
Jun 22, 2026
15:26

Episode notes

Most of us tend to think of English as being, well, English, but the English language is the product of numerous influences from languages all over the world. One of the most impactful languages on English, particularly in vocabulary, has been French, but how did that happen? This episode attempts to answer this question by looking at one eventful year, 1066, and how the events of that year profoundly changed the English language, with the effects still identifiable today. This episode also includes the usual fun facts, including a quick look at some of the quirkier royal nicknames of the period. Fun and informative!

Keywords

Linguistics
History
Language
English
Nobles
Edward the Confessor
William the Conqueror
England
Normandy
Medieval War