Hindi, one of the most widely used languages of India, has roots in the ancient Indo-Aryan language family. The earliest forms of Hindi emerged in the Indus Valley region around 1500 BCE during the height of the Egyptian Empire, Mesopotamia, and the Shang Dynasty. Over time, this early form of Hindi evolved into various languages while also developing its own script, Devanagari, which is still used today.
Modern Standard Hindi, which has major influences from Sanskrit, became the official language of India upon the country’s independence in 1947.
Below, our long-time trusted partner, IOR Global Services, provides fun facts about this language.
Fun Facts
- Devanagari, Hindi’s writing system, is also used in other languages such as Sanskrit and Nepali.
- English words that have been derived from Hindi include yoga, jungle, verandah, myth, pajama, chutney, thug, loot, and bungalow.
- Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world with over 600 million native speakers in India alone!
- Hindi cinema, famously known as Bollywood, is known for its vibrant stories, awe-inspiring dance numbers, colorful art direction, and influence on global popular culture.
- Out of more than 150 languages spoken in India, Hindi is the most common.
- Devanagari consists of 36 consonants and 11 vowels. Every letter of the Hindi alphabet has its own independent and distinct sound. This means Hindi words are pronounced as they are written down.
- Famous Hindi speakers include:
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas: Actress, Singer, Former Miss World
- Shah Rukh Khan: Actor known as the “King of Bollywood”
- Sudha Murty: Educator, Author, and Philanthropist
Want to learn more about Hindi (or any other language)? Please contact your Aires representative.