Here's a more detailed breakdown:
* Vulgar Latin: The spoken Latin of the Roman Empire, not the formal written Latin, is the direct ancestor of Portuguese.
* Galician-Portuguese: As the Roman Empire declined, Vulgar Latin evolved into various regional dialects. In the Iberian Peninsula, one dialect became known as Galician-Portuguese, spoken in what is now northwestern Spain and western Portugal.
* Old Portuguese: Around the 13th century, Galician-Portuguese began to diverge into separate languages, with Old Portuguese emerging in Portugal.
Other Influences:
While Latin is the primary source, Portuguese, like all Romance languages, absorbed influences from other languages over time, including:
* Arabic: Due to the Moorish occupation of the Iberian Peninsula, Arabic words entered the vocabulary, particularly related to agriculture, law, and science.
* Germanic: Some Germanic words came in through contact with Germanic tribes, particularly in the north.
* Native Iberian Languages: There were languages spoken in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans, and some words remain in Portuguese.
In Summary:
While Portuguese is ultimately descended from Latin, its specific vocabulary and grammar have been shaped by a rich mix of influences over centuries.