Difference between Hindi and Bhojpuri

Key difference: Both Hindi and Bhojpuri are two distinct languages that are commonly heard in India. Hindi is one of the official languages of India. It is a standardized and Sanskritised register of the Hindustani language. Hindi is approximately the sixth-largest language in the world. Bhojpuri is another language that is predominantly used in India. It is mainly spoken in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, in the western part of state of Bihar, and the northwestern part of Jharkhand in India.

Both Hindi and Bhojpuri are two distinct languages that are commonly heard in India. However, due to globalization and immigration, these languages may be also heard in other countries, especially one with a large Indian population.

Hindi is one of the official languages of India. It is a standardized and Sanskritised register of the Hindustani language. Hindi is the native language of the people living in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan. However, it is also commonly heard in regions with large Indian diasporas, such as in Nepal, Guyana, Surinam, parts of South Africa, etc.

The Indian constitution states that Hindi is the official language of the Federal Government of India and that it will be written in Devangiri script. However, English is commonly used as an official language alongside Hindi. Still, according to the 2001 Indian census, 258 million people in India reported Hindi to be their native language. This makes Hindi approximately the sixth-largest language in the world.

Bhojpuri, on the other hand, is another language that is predominantly used in India. It is mainly spoken in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, in the western part of state of Bihar, and the northwestern part of Jharkhand in India. Other than India, it is also spoken in countries with huge Indian diasporas, such as Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, and Mauritius. In fact, it is one of the national languages of Guyana, Fiji, and Suriname. It is also the official language of Madhesh, Nepal. Bhojpuri was also once spoken in Trinidad and Tobago, but these days it has mainly been forgotten in Trinidad and Tobago as well as Guyana.

According to the 2001 Indian census, approximately 40 million people consider Bhojpuri as their native language. Additionally, even though Bhojpuri is technically a different language than Hindi, for official purposes Bhojpuri is considered a part of Hindi.

Comparison between Hindi and Bhojpuri:

 

Hindi

Bhojpuri

Native to

India

Significant communities in South Africa, Nepal

India, Nepal, Mauritius, Suriname

Official language of

The Federal Government of India, as well as the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

One of the national languages of Guyana, Fiji, and Suriname. Official language of Madhesh, Nepal.

Spoken in

Most of India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, as well as in Nepal, Guyana, Surinam, parts of South Africa, etc.

The Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh, in the western part of state of Bihar, and the northwestern part of Jharkhand in India, as well as in Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, and Mauritius.

Native speakers

258 million  (2001 census)

40 million  (2001 census)

Language family

Indo-European – Indo-Iranian – Indo-Aryan – Central Zone – Western Hindi – Hindustani – Khariboli - Hindi

Indo-European – Indo-Iranian – Indo-Aryan – Eastern – Bihari – Bhojpuri

Dialects

  • Braj
  • Haryanvi
  • Bundeli
  • Kannauji
  • Khari boli
  • Awadhi
  • Bagheli
  • Chattisgarhi
  • Caribbean Hindustani (including Sarnami Hindi)
  • Mauritian Hindi
  • Northern (Gorakhpuri, Sarawaria, Basti)
  • Western (Purbi, Benarsi)
  • Southern (Kharwari)
  • Tharu Bhojpuri
  • Madhesi
  • Domra
  • Musahari

Writing system

Devanagari (Brahmic)

Devanagari, Kaithi

Image Courtesy: wikimedia.org

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