The current English language has a huge vocabulary and has synonyms that other languages do not have. That is because when the Latin (due to the church), Germanic (due to the original Germanic settlers) and French languages (due to the Norman invasion) were all being used in Medieval England instead of keeping one word for something the people just kept all the words. Things like Deer/Venison, Pigs/Pork, Hen/Chicken, Teeth/Dental and Mouth/Oral  are examples were different words for the same thing were kept. Live animals are usually the old English words and after they are cooked they are the Norman French words.

(The Great Courses – Turning Points in Medieval History)