Classical Latin
high-prestige form of the Latin language in the Roman Republic and Empire
Classical Latin is the form of Latin that was used by the Ancient Romans in official Roman record-keeping, the Roman army, and Latin literature. Its use helped the Golden Age of Latin literature, during the 1st century BC and the early 1st century AD.
| Classical Latin | |
|---|---|
| LINGVA LATINA, lingua latina | |
 Latin inscription in the Colosseum | |
| Pronunciation | [laˈtiːnɪtaːs] |
| Native to | Roman Republic, Roman Empire |
| Region | Mare Nostrum region |
| Era | 75 BC to AD 3rd century, when it developed into Late Latin |
Indo-European
| |
Early form | |
| Classical Latin alphabet | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Roman Republic, Roman Empire |
| Regulated by | Schools of grammar and rhetoric |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
lat-cla | |
| Glottolog | None |
| Linguasphere | 51-AAB-aaa |
 The range of Latin, AD 60 | |
Classical Latin is a dead language, as is Vulgar Latin, the common speech of citizens in the Roman Empire. Latin is no longer spoken as a first language, but it is still spoken by church officials in the Vatican, where it is the official language.
