Hindi

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'Hindi' is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to the Hindi language, which is one of the official languages of India. You can use the word 'Hindi' when talking about the language, culture, or people of Hindi-speaking regions in India. For example: - "She is fluent in Hindi and English." - "The Hindi film industry, also known as Bollywood, is famous around the world." - "I would love to learn Hindi and immerse myself in the culture of northern India."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

States are divided by language, except in the north, where several of India's most populous states share Hindi.

The Economist

They are in no position to cock a snook, for they call the turkey…the hindi.

The Economist

As the school day draws to a close, Kalavathi gathers the children under the shade of the school's iconic Flame tree or 'Gulmohar' in Hindi.

The Guardian

You can see buses and rickshaws jostle for space with pedestrians as hawkers shout out their wares, like the juice seller who sings adapted Hindi film songs beneath the Bandra West skywalk - Jumme ke raat hai, mango bhi saath hai (It's Friday night, and you have a mango drink with you).

The Guardian

A woman named Kanta from the alliance – which also comprises Mahila Milan (Women Together in Hindi) and SPARC Societyy for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres) – came to meet Parveen and her neighbours soon after the demolition was deferred.

The Guardian

Hawa hawa oh hawa … a 90s Hindi hit blares from the radio in Kusum's mud house.

The Guardian

PK (the title is a play on the Hindi word for being drunk) also has an elaborate side story that has further upset Hindu nationalists – the heroine falls in love with a Pakistani, is heartbroken when she thinks he has ditched her, but is eventually reunited with her Muslim boyfriend by the film's lead.

The Guardian - Film

After acknowledging the traditional Indigenous owners of the land in English, Modi continued in Hindi.

The Guardian

Now she enjoys singing with her friends, doing crosswords and gossiping about the latest Hindi films.

The Guardian

A decade ago, she says, the Hindi word for rape, balatkar, was nearly taboo.

The Economist

Besides, as any number of writers have argued, restricting migration while allowing the free movement of goods and services is illogical and inefficient.Many arguments like S.A.P.'s rely on implicit assumptions: Kannada good, Hindi bad.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "Hindi", consider specifying whether you are referring to the language itself, its literature, or its cultural context to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "Hindi" when you mean "Hindu". "Hindi" refers to the language, while "Hindu" pertains to a follower of Hinduism or aspects of Hinduism.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "Hindi" is as a proper noun, designating the Hindi language, a standardized version of Hindustani, as noted in Ludwig. It also functions as an adjective referring to things related to the Hindi language or to an Indian.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "Hindi" is a proper noun primarily used to denote the Hindi language, an official language of India. It is also used adjectivally to describe anything related to the language or its speakers. According to Ludwig, "Hindi" is grammatically correct and very commonly used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While the term is generally neutral, it's important to differentiate it from "Hindu", which refers to followers or aspects of Hinduism. When referring to the language, clarifying whether you're talking about the language itself, its literature, or cultural elements helps to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hindi language

Explicitly specifies that "Hindi" refers to the language.

The Hindi tongue

Uses "tongue" as a more poetic synonym for language.

Modern Standard Hindi

Refers to the standardized version of the language.

Hindustani

Highlights the historical base language of Hindi and Urdu.

The Hindi dialect

Emphasizes a specific regional or social variety of Hindi.

Hindi-Urdu

Acknowledges the shared linguistic heritage of Hindi and Urdu.

The Devanagari script

Refers to the script commonly used to write Hindi.

Hindi literature

Focuses on the body of written works in the Hindi language.

Hindi cinema

Refers to the film industry in the Hindi language, also known as Bollywood.

The language of Bollywood

Connects Hindi directly to the well-known film industry.

FAQs

How do I use "Hindi" in a sentence?

"Hindi" is commonly used to refer to the Hindi language. For example, "She is fluent in "Hindi" and English." You can also say "She is fluent in the "Hindi language"".

What is the difference between "Hindi" and "Hindu"?

"Hindi" refers to the language spoken in India, while "Hindu" refers to a follower of Hinduism or to aspects of Hinduism.

What is the relationship between "Hindi" and "Urdu"?

"Hindi" and "Urdu" share a common origin in Hindustani. Modern Standard Hindi draws more vocabulary from Sanskrit, while Urdu draws more from Persian and Arabic.

Is "Hindi" the same as "Hindustani"?

"Hindustani" is considered the base language from which both "Hindi" and Urdu evolved. Modern Standard Hindi is a Sanskritized version of Hindustani.