Germanic languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, primarily spoken in Northern and Western Europe. This group includes major languages such as English, German, and Dutch, which have evolved from a common ancestral language known as Proto-Germanic. These languages are characterized by unique phonetic, grammatical, and lexical features. They have significantly influenced global communication, especially through English, which is now a global lingua franca. The Germanic languages are further divided into three main groups: West Germanic, North Germanic, and East Germanic, with the latter being largely extinct.