5 oldest languages in the world

By Igwe Patrick

Language has always been more than communication—it’s how civilizations preserved their culture, beliefs, and history.

From ancient temples to clay tablets, these early languages shaped the world around them and continue to offer insight into humanity’s past.

Here’s a look at some of the oldest and most influential languages that have stood the test of time.

Sumerian

Sumerian is widely believed to be the world’s first written language. It originated in ancient Mesopotamia, in what is now modern-day Iraq, around 3100 BCE. It was mainly used by the Sumerian people for keeping records, writing religious texts and telling stories. The writing system, known as cuneiform, involved pressing symbols into clay tablets using a stylus.

Although people stopped speaking Sumerian around 2000 BCE, it continued to be used for religious and academic purposes for many years. Today, historians and archaeologists still study thousands of these clay tablets to understand how early humans lived, governed and worshipped.

Egyptian

The Egyptian language dates back to around 2600 BCE and is best known for its unique writing style, called hieroglyphics. This was the language of the Pharaohs and was widely used for religious texts, inscriptions on temples and official government records. Over time, the language developed into different stages such as Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian and later Coptic.

Even though the earlier forms of Egyptian are no longer spoken, Coptic is still used today in some Christian churches in Egypt. Through this language, much of ancient Egyptian culture, including their spiritual beliefs and scientific knowledge, has been preserved for future generations.

Akkadian

Akkadian came into use around 2500 BCE and is recognised as the first Semitic language to be written. It gradually replaced Sumerian as the main spoken language in Mesopotamia and became the official language of empires like Babylon and Assyria. Like Sumerian, it was also written in cuneiform and was used for writing laws, letters, religious texts and literature.

Over time, Akkadian developed into dialects such as Babylonian and Assyrian. Although it eventually disappeared around 100 CE, replaced by languages like Aramaic, its impact still lives on. Classic works like the Epic of Gilgamesh were written in Akkadian and are still studied today for their deep cultural and historical value.

Tamil

Tamil is one of the few ancient languages that is still very much alive today. It has been in use for over 2,000 years, with written records going as far back as 500 BCE. Originating from southern India and Sri Lanka, Tamil has a strong literary tradition, with classic works like the Thirukkural remaining relevant to this day.

Today, Tamil is spoken by over 75 million people around the world. It is an official language in India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. What makes Tamil unique is how it has managed to preserve its classical roots while still evolving and staying relevant in modern society.

Sanskrit

Sanskrit began to develop around 1500 BCE and is regarded as one of the great classical languages of the world. It was first used in the Vedas, which are some of the oldest known religious texts. Over time, it became the language of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Its grammar is known for being very precise and elegant.

Although it is not commonly spoken in everyday conversation, Sanskrit still plays a major role in religious rituals, chants and academic study. It has influenced many modern Indian languages including Hindi and Bengali. Beyond language, Sanskrit has also shaped Indian philosophy, science and culture for thousands of years.