Hindi is not just a language confined to India- it is a global linguistic force. With centuries of history, cultural influence, and millions of speakers worldwide, Hindi continues to shape conversations, literature, cinema, and the identity of its speakers.
Here are 10 fascinating facts you might not know about Hindi:
1. Hindi is the 4th most spoken language in the world
After English, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish, Hindi is the fourth most spoken language globally. It connects not only the people of India but also large diaspora communities across countries like Mauritius, Fiji, Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, South Africa, and the UK.
2. Over 180 million native speakers
In India alone, over 180 million people speak Hindi as their mother tongue, according to census data. Beyond India’s borders, millions more continue to use Hindi daily, keeping the language vibrant and alive across continents.
3. Millions more as a second language
Apart from native speakers, millions consider Hindi their second or third language. Across India, especially in states where other regional languages dominate, Hindi bridges communication gaps and connects diverse linguistic communities.
4. Hindi has over 120 dialects
One of the most fascinating aspects of Hindi is its rich diversity of dialects. From Braj, Awadhi, Bhojpuri, and Haryanvi to numerous regional variants, each dialect carries its own cultural identity, folklore, and distinct flavour. This makes Hindi not a single monolithic language but a tapestry of voices united under one umbrella.
5. Around 70 per cent of Hindi vocabulary comes from Sanskrit
The foundation of Hindi vocabulary lies in Sanskrit, its ancient linguistic ancestor. About 70 per cent of Hindi words are derived directly from Sanskrit, making it one of the closest links to India’s classical heritage. At the same time, Hindi readily borrows words from Persian, Arabic, English, and regional languages, giving it flexibility and richness.
6. Hindi shares a script with Sanskrit
Unlike English or other global languages written in the Roman alphabet, Hindi uses Devanagari script—the same script historically used for Sanskrit. This heritage adds to its cultural depth and allows Hindi to retain its close relationship with one of the world’s oldest languages.
7. Hindi and Urdu: Two sides of a coin
Though different in script and vocabulary influences, Hindi and Urdu share a common linguistic base. Both evolved from Hindustani and remain mutually intelligible in everyday speech, especially in informal contexts, even today.
8. A language of global recognition
Since 2010, World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on January 10. It reflects the international efforts to promote Hindi as a global language and acknowledges the role of Hindi in connecting cultures around the world.
9. Hindi in popular culture
Hindi has gained global visibility through Bollywood films, music, and literature. Songs and dialogues, even when translated, often retain Hindi words because of their emotional resonance, helping spread Hindi terms across the global vocabulary.
10. The language of connection
Above all, Hindi isn’t just a medium of communication- it is a symbol of unity. In a multilingual country like India, Hindi often serves as a linguistic bridge, enabling people from different regions to connect and celebrate their shared identity.
Why do we celebrate National Hindi Diwas?
The Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi as the official language of the country on September 14, 1949 under Article 343. It began to be observed as Hindi Day after stalwarts like Beohar Rajendra Simha, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Kaka Kalelkar, Maithili Sharan Gupt, and Seth Govind Das lobbied hard for the cause.