The English language originated from Germanic invasions of Britain in the 5th century by groups like the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons. These Germanic tribes spoke similar languages that developed into Old English between 450-1100 AD. However, English has also been influenced by other groups that invaded Britain like the Celts, Romans, Normans, and Vikings. This explains why English contains words derived from different languages and why some words are spelled similarly but have different meanings or pronunciations. Understanding the origins and influences on English makes learning the language simpler with practice.