centum language group

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The term "centum" refers to a group of Indo-European languages where prehistoric palatal stops did not evolve into palatal or alveolar fricatives. This linguistic distinction is contrasted with the "satem" group, where such a change occurred. The name "centum" comes from the Latin word for "hundred," which exemplifies this phonetic characteristic, as opposed to the satem languages where the word for "hundred" begins with a different sound. This classification, while historically significant, is now considered less crucial by some scholars in understanding the broader divisions within the Indo-European language family. The Italic branch, which includes Latin and its descendant Romance languages, is part of the centum group.123

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Indo-European languages
Changes in phonology
…known as “centum” languages, from centum (/kentum/), the corresponding word in Latin. The satem languages are not geographically separated from one another by any recorded languages that preserve the palatals as stops; it is therefore inferred that the change to affricates (whence later spirants) occurred just once and spread over…
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…known as “centum” languages, from centum (/kentum/), the corresponding word in Latin. The satem languages are not geographically separated from one another by any recorded languages that preserve the palatals as stops; it is therefore inferred that the change to affricates (whence later spirants) occurred just once and spread over…
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linguistics
Proto-Indo-European reconstruction
…commonly referred to as the centum group; the eastern group—comprising Sanskrit, Iranian, Slavic, and others—is called the satem (satəm) group. (The words centum and satem come from Latin and Iranian, respectively, and mean “hundred.” They exemplify, with their initial consonant, the two different treatments of the Proto-Indo-European simple velars.) Nowadays…
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…commonly referred to as the centum group; the eastern group—comprising Sanskrit, Iranian, Slavic, and others—is called the satem (satəm) group. (The words centum and satem come from Latin and Iranian, respectively, and mean “hundred.” They exemplify, with their initial consonant, the two different treatments of the Proto-Indo-European simple velars.) Nowadays…
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