r/FakesGreek

The core historical and linguistic reality is that both languages do share a common root, but that root is Vulgar Latin—specifically the Balkan dialect of Latin spoken during the Roman Empire.

Confusion arises when "common root" is mistaken for "direct descent from one to the other."

• They descended from the same root (Latin): Just as Italian, Spanish, and French all share Vulgar Latin as their parent root, so do Romanian and Pindus Vlachika (Aromanian).
• Neither language created the other: Pindus Vlachika did not evolve from Romanian, and Romanian did not evolve from Vlachika. They are sister branches that split from the same Balkan Latin tree around the 6th to 10th centuries AD.
• Independent local histories: Metsovo Vlachs developed locally in the southern Balkans under Greek, Byzantine, and Venetian trade influences. Romanians developed north of the Danube under heavy Slavic and trans-Danubian influences.

Metsovo Vlachs are correct that their language did not come from Romania, but academically, both tongues share the exact same ancient Roman Latin parent.