Oïl

Oïl refers to the langues d'oïl, a branch of the Gallo-Romance subfamily of Romance languages traditionally spoken in northern France and adjacent areas. The group includes the varieties that gave rise to Old French and, ultimately, Modern French, with Parisian French becoming the standard variety in later centuries. The name oïl comes from the Old French word for yes, oïl, in contrast to the Occitan word for yes, oc oròc, which underlies the term langue d’oc.

Geographically, oïl languages were centered in northern France, from Île-de-France outward to the western and northern regions, and extend into parts of Belgium where Walloon is spoken, as well as into neighboring areas in the Low Countries. They evolved from Vulgar Latin spoken in Gaul during the Middle Ages, developing distinct phonological and lexical features from one region to another. The Parisian dialect, later standardized, played a pivotal role in shaping Modern French, while many regional oïl varieties continued in use alongside it.

Representative oïl languages and dialects include Norman, Picard, Walloon, Champenois, Lorrain, Bourguignon, Poitevin-Saintongeais, Orléanais, Tourangeau, and other transitional varieties. Some of these have diminished in daily use due to the spread of Standard French, but they survive in regional speech communities, literature, and cultural revival efforts.

Today, the oïl languages are generally considered minority or endangered in many areas, with varying degrees of protection and revival activity. They are distinguished from the langue d’oc (Occitan) and are part of the broader Romance language family, sharing proximity with French while retaining distinct dialectal identities.