Hindi
Hindi related content is to be organized and developed here. Hindi is an Indo-Aryan language and, together with English, an official language of the Union government of India. It is written in the Devanagari script. This department page gathers learning materials, projects, and readings for anyone who wants to study or teach Hindi.
Projects and resources
Learning materials and learning projects can be used by multiple departments.
This wiki has adopted an applied model for education. Lessons should be centered around active learning.
Select a descriptive name for each new link. See naming conventions.
About the Hindi language
Hindi belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. Under the Constitution of India, Hindi in the Devanagari script is the official language of the Union, and English continues to be used for official purposes as well. Hindi is also one of the most widely studied languages in South Asia, and it serves as a common link language for people from many regions of India.
History
Hindi traces its roots to Sanskrit, the classical language of ancient India. Over many centuries, spoken forms of Sanskrit developed into the Prakrit languages, and these later gave rise to the Apabhramsha varieties. From these medieval forms, the modern languages of northern India gradually emerged.
Modern Standard Hindi is based mainly on Khari Boli, a dialect spoken in and around the Delhi region. During the medieval and colonial periods, the everyday speech of this region was often called Hindustani. Hindustani developed two formal registers: Hindi, which is written in Devanagari and draws much of its learned vocabulary from Sanskrit, and Urdu, which is written in a Perso-Arabic script and draws more vocabulary from Persian and Arabic. In ordinary conversation, Hindi and Urdu speakers can usually understand each other well, because their basic grammar and everyday words are largely shared.
Speakers and where it is spoken
Hindi is spoken most widely across northern and central India, in a broad area often called the Hindi belt. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi use Hindi extensively in daily life, education, and government. Many people in other parts of India learn Hindi as a second or third language.
Hindi is also heard in communities outside India, including in Nepal and among people of Indian origin in countries such as Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Fiji Hindi, a related variety, is an official language of Fiji. Official counts of speakers come from the Census of India and from reference works such as Ethnologue, and learners who need precise figures should consult those sources directly.
Writing system
Hindi is written in Devanagari, a script also used for Sanskrit, Marathi, Nepali, and several other languages. Key features include:
- Devanagari is an abugida. Each consonant letter carries a built-in short "a" vowel, and other vowels are shown with marks attached to the consonant.
- Text is written from left to right.
- Most letters hang from a horizontal headline bar, which joins the letters of a word together.
- Consonants can combine into conjunct letters when no vowel sounds between them.
- Spelling is fairly phonetic, so a learner who knows the letters can usually pronounce a written word.
Grammar basics
Hindi grammar is regular in many ways and is approachable for beginners.
- Word order. The usual order is subject, object, verb (SOV). For example, "main chai peeta hoon" means "I drink tea", with the verb at the end.
- Gender. Every noun is either masculine or feminine. Gender affects adjectives and verbs, so learners should learn the gender together with each new noun.
- Postpositions. Instead of prepositions, Hindi uses postpositions that come after the noun, such as "mein" (in), "par" (on), "se" (from), and "ka, ke, ki" (of). See Hindi plurals and postpositions for practice.
- Verb agreement. Verbs change to agree with the gender and number of the subject, and in some past tense constructions with the object.
- Politeness levels. Hindi has three levels of "you": "tu" (very intimate), "tum" (familiar), and "aap" (respectful). Beginners are advised to use "aap".
Pronunciation basics
Hindi has some sounds that are new to many English speakers.
- Aspirated consonants. Hindi distinguishes plain and aspirated sounds, such as "k" and "kh" or "p" and "ph". An aspirated consonant is pronounced with a small puff of air. The difference can change the meaning of a word.
- Retroflex consonants. Sounds such as "t", "th", "d", and "dh" exist in two series: dental, with the tongue touching the teeth, and retroflex, with the tongue curled back toward the roof of the mouth.
- Nasal vowels. Some vowels are pronounced through the nose, as in "haan" (yes).
- Vowel length. Short and long vowels, such as "i" and "ee", are distinct and should be practiced carefully.
Useful phrases
The phrases below are shown in a simple romanization.
| Hindi (romanized) | Meaning |
|---|---|
| namaste | hello, goodbye (a respectful greeting) |
| dhanyavaad | thank you |
| aap kaise hain? | how are you? (polite, to a man or a group) |
| aap kaisi hain? | how are you? (polite, to a woman) |
| main theek hoon | I am fine |
| haan | yes |
| nahin | no |
| aapka naam kya hai? | what is your name? |
| mera naam ... hai | my name is ... |
| kripya | please |
| maaf kijiye | excuse me, sorry |
| phir milenge | see you again |
Literature and media
Hindi has a long literary tradition. Among the best known classical works is the Ramcharitmanas by the poet Tulsidas, a retelling of the Ramayana written in Awadhi, a language closely related to Hindi. In the modern period, Munshi Premchand became famous for his short stories and novels about village and city life, including the novel Godaan. For more, see Hindi literature.
Hindi is also the main language of the Mumbai film industry, often called Bollywood, along with many television programs, songs, newspapers, and online media. Films and songs are a popular and enjoyable way for learners to hear natural spoken Hindi.
Learning Hindi
Some practical tips for learners:
- Learn Devanagari early. The script can be learned in a few weeks of steady practice, and it makes pronunciation much clearer.
- Learn each noun with its gender.
- Practice listening every day with songs, films with subtitles, podcasts, or news broadcasts.
- Speak from the start, even with simple phrases, and find a conversation partner if possible.
- Use spaced repetition flashcards to review vocabulary.
- Build small active learning projects, such as describing your day or labeling objects at home.
Free resources include online script charts such as Omniglot, open courses, language exchange communities, and the pages listed on this department. Teachers can also find ideas on the Teaching page, and self-learners can explore Online learning.
Hindi Day
Hindi Day, known as Hindi Diwas, is observed every year on 14 September. It marks the date in 1949 when the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi in the Devanagari script as an official language of the Union. Schools, offices, and cultural groups often hold events, competitions, and readings on this day.