English belongs to the Germanic language family. This family is a branch of the larger Indo-European language family and includes a variety of languages spoken primarily in Northern Europe. Within the Germanic family, English is grouped under the West Germanic languages alongside German and Dutch. English has evolved significantly over the centuries, influenced by historical events such as the Norman Conquest and interactions with other languages, leading to its current form. Today, English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world and serves as a global lingua franca in various fields, including business and science.