Which language did William Shakespeare use for most of his plays and poems?

William Shakespeare used Early Modern English for most of his plays and poems.

Shakespeare wrote during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, a period commonly associated with Early Modern English. The language had moved beyond Middle English but had not yet reached the standardized form familiar today. Shakespeare’s works show changing spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.

His writing helped popularize many expressions and words, although claims that he personally invented every phrase associated with him are often exaggerated. His vocabulary also reflects contact with Latin, French, Italian, and classical literature.

Shakespeare occasionally used Latin, French, or other languages within a work for characterization or dramatic effect, but the main language of his dramatic and poetic output was English. That is why Shakespearean English is a historical form of English, not a separate language.