The language of Latin has had a profound effect on the evolution of the English language.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, approximately 50% of all English words have Latin roots or derivatives. The dictionary goes on to say that most of these words have Latin roots, making the words themselves approximately 25-33% Latin.

If you were to look at the Latin language itself, even a person without classical training would be able figure out the meaning of most Latin words due to the fact that most Latin vocabulary has made its way into the English language in one form or another. Sometimes the words are nearly identical, and sometimes the connection is totally obscure. The word “iris” in English comes from the Latin word “arcus pluvius” which means rainbow.