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What Language is Hindi?
Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language primarily spoken in India. It is the fourth most spoken first language in the world, with more than 340 million native speakers and 260 million additional speakers as second language speakers. It is one of the official languages of the Indian government and is commonly spoken in countries like Nepal, Mauritius, Fiji, Pakistan, and UAE. Hindi is written in Devanagari script and is known for its rich literary and cultural heritage. Thus, the Hindi language has an important impact on Indian culture, politics, and entertainment.
Read more about Hindi Alphabet and Hindi Numbers
History of Hindi Language
The history of the Hindi language can be divided into several periods, each marked by linguistic developments, cultural influences, and historical events. Here’s a brief overview:
Ancient Period (Sanskrit Influence)
The origins of Hindi may be traced back to ancient India, where it originated from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language.
Medieval Period (Prakrits and Apabhramsha)
During the medieval period, there was a language shift away from classical Sanskrit and toward more common forms. Middle Indo-Aryan Prakrits formed as civilization evolved, and Apabhramsha, a transitional language, played a role in the creation of regional languages, including Hindi.
Emergence of Hindi (10th–14th centuries)
Hindi started taking distinct forms from the 10th to the 14th centuries during the Apabhramsha phase. It began to emerge as a language with regional variations.
Bhakti and Sufi Influences (14th–17th centuries)
The Bhakti and Sufi movements had a profound impact on Hindi literature. Poets like Kabir and Tulsidas contributed to the development of Hindi literature. Tulsidas’s “Ramcharitmanas” in Awadhi dialect became a landmark work.
Mughal Period (16th–18th centuries)
The Mughal era saw Persian influence on Hindi, leading to a Persianized form known as “Rekhta.” This mingling of Persian and local languages laid the foundation for Urdu.
Braj Bhasha and Khari Boli (17th–19th centuries)
Braj Bhasha, a dialect spoken in the Braj region, became a prominent literary language. Khari Boli, a variant of Hindi, gained importance and later evolved into Modern Standard Hindi.
British Colonial Period (19th century)
The British colonial period saw efforts to standardize Hindi for administrative purposes. The advent of the printing press led to increased literary activities and the standardization of the Devanagari script.
Post-Independence Period (20th century–present)
After India gained independence in 1947, Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, was declared one of the official languages of the Indian government. However, the linguistic diversity of India led to the recognition of multiple official languages.
Modern Hindi Literature
Modern Hindi literature spans a wide range of genres, including novels, poetry, and plays. Prominent authors like Premchand, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and contemporary writers continue to contribute to Hindi literature.
Hindi Speaking Countries
| Hindi Speaking Countries | Number of Speakers (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| India | 422,048,642 |
| Nepal | 8,000,000 |
| United States | 649,000 |
| Mauritius | 450,170 |
| Fiji | 380,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | 283,000 |
| South Africa | 250,292 |
| Suriname | 150,000 |
| Uganda | 100,000 |
| New Zealand | 82,000 |
| Singapore | 68,000 |
| Jamaica | 54,000 |
| United Kingdom | 45,800 |
| Germany | 20,000 |
| New Zealand | 20,000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 16,000 |
| French Guiana | 3,000 |
Different Dialects of the Hindi Language
| Hindi Dialect | Regions | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Bagheli (बघेली) | Central-East India, parts of Nepal | Used for inter-group communication; example: “tor naam ka hai” (What is your name?) |
| Chambeli (चम्बेली) | Himachal Pradesh | Similar to mainstream Hindi; follows the subject-object-verb rule; for example: “Tharo nam kain hai” (What is your name?) |
| Gadwali (गढ़वाली) | Uttarakhand | Spoken in Uttarakhand; influenced by local literature; example: “tyār nãũ kya chha?” (What is your name?) |
| Kumauni (कुमायूँनी) | Kumaon region (India), Doti (Nepal) | Endangered; the script is Takri; example: “tuvada kya na ye” (What is your name?) |
| Awadhi (अवधी) | Central UP, Nepal, Fiji, Caribbean islands | Features voiced and whispered vowels; example: “ham kahaan jaee” (Where should I go?) |
| Hariyanvi (हरियाणवी) | Haryana | UNESCO considers it endangered; for example: “tumar nau ke che” (What is your name?) |
| Bagdi (बागड़ी) | Rajasthan, South Punjab | Similar to standard Hindi; spoken with attitude; for example: “Bhai, k haal se?” (Hello Brother, how are you?) |
| Khadi Boli (खड़ी बोली) | Western UP, Uttarakhand, Haryana | Local dialect with standing expressions; used by famous poets; for example: “nij bhaasha unnati aahe, sab bhaasha ko mool” |
| Braj Bhasha (ब्रजभाषा) | North-Central India | Dominant in literature; language of ancient spirituality; example: “wo jat hae” (he is going) vs. “wo roje jat hae” (he goes there every day) |
| Maithili (मैथिली) | Mithila region (Bihar, Jharkhand, Nepal) | The main dialect of Mithila; dates back to the 14th century; for example: “apne ker shubh naam?” (What is your name?) |
| Marvadi (मारवाड़ी) | Rajasthan | The main dialect of Mithila; dates back to the 14th century; example: “apne ker shubh naam?” (What is your name?) |
| Bhojpuri (भोजपुरी) | Bihar, East UP, Madhya Pradesh | Dialect of emigration; millions of speakers in Nepal and Mauritius; example: “tohaar naav ka ha or raur naav ka ha” (What is your name?) |
| Bundeli (बुन्देली) | Bundelkhand region (Madhya Pradesh, UP) | Nomadic or semi-nomadic community with a unique cultural identity; known as Banjara or Lambani. |
| Chhattisgarhi (छत्तीसगढ़ी) | Chhattisgarh, neighboring states | Around 16 million speakers; recognized in 1885; example: “tor naam kaa haawaye” (what is your name?) |
| Lambadi (लम्बाडी) | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and others | Similar to mainstream Hindi; follows the subject-object-verb rule; example: “Tharo nam kain hai” (What is your name?) |
| Banjari (बंजारी) | Various states of India | Closely related to the Lambadi community; traditionally nomadic or semi-nomadic. Rich cultural heritage with traditional dances, music, and crafts. Historically known for trade and transport activities. |
| Sugali (सुगाली) | Karnataka | Spoken by the Sugalis, a tribal community; classified as a Dravidian language; part of the Southern Dravidian language family; primarily spoken in the Bellary district of Karnataka. |
| Surjapuri (सूरजपुरी) | Bihar | Spoken in the Surjapuri region, Bihar; often classified as a dialect of the Maithili language, an Indo-Aryan language; the Surjapuri region is in the Kosi division of Bihar, known for unique cultural and linguistic features. |
Interesting Facts about Hindi Language
- After Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, and English, Hindi is the world’s fourth most spoken language.
- Many words in Hindi have been borrowed from various languages, including Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, and English.
- In the United Arab Emirates, Hindi has been designated as the third official court language.
- Hindi is derived from the Persian word Hind, which means “Land of the Indus River.”
- Bihar was the first state to replace Urdu with Hindi as its official language.
How to Learn Hindi Fast?
To learn Hindi quickly, practice with the fundamental Hindi vocabulary available on our ToolsNepal blogs. You can begin by learning the Hindi alphabet, numbers, and important words. Then move on to common phrases, create sentences, and improve your written and spoken skills. Once you’ve got the basics, you can use our Hindi translation tool, Hindi typing tool, and Hindi Keyboard for extra practice.