Poitevin (French pronunciation: [pwat(ə)vɛ̃] ⓘ; endonym: poetevin) is a dialect of Poitevin–Saintongeais,[2][3] one of the regional languages of France, spoken in the historical province of Poitou, now administratively divided between Pays de la Loire (Loire countries) and Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine).

The earliest attested written use of the language is in charters and legal documents dating from the 13th century; people who spoke it were known as the Poitevins.

A tradition of theatrical writing and dramatic monologues for performance typifies the literary output in the language, although from the 19th century and in the 20th century (especially with the publication of a weekly paper Le Subiet from 1901) regular journalistic production was also established.

Some linguists assert that the Serments de Strasbourg, the first text in French according to the official state position in France, were actually written in Poitevin.

Outside France, the language is spoken in Northern California, especially in Sacramento, Plumas, Tehama and Siskiyou counties, the latter with both large French ancestry and speaking populations.