A Brief History

Hindi, one of the most widely used languages of India, has
its 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, with major influences from Sanskrit, became the official language of India after independence in 1947.

Interesting Facts About the Language

• Devanagari, Hindi’s writing system, is also used in other languages like Sanskrit and Nepali.
• Many English words that have been derived from Hindi are: Yoga, Jungle, Verandah, Myth, Pajama, Chutney, Thug, Loot and Bungalow.
• Hindi is the 3rd 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 the 150+ languages Hindi is the most commonly spoken language in India.
• 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

What Hindi Means to Me