The Ancient Egyptian language is a member of the Afro-Asiatic language family, primarily spoken in Egypt from around 3000 BCE until the 5th century CE. It evolved through several stages, including Old Egyptian, Middle Egyptian, Late Egyptian, and Demotic, each reflecting changes in grammar and vocabulary. The language was written using hieroglyphs, a complex system of pictorial symbols, as well as cursive scripts for everyday writing. Hieroglyphs were often used in religious texts, monumental inscriptions, and tombs, serving both decorative and communicative purposes. The language's decline began with the spread of Greek and later Arabic, leading to its eventual disappearance. Today, scholars study Ancient Egyptian through inscriptions and texts, providing insights into the culture and history of Ancient Egypt.