10 most spoken languages in India: We know that India is the seventh largest country in the world by area as well as the second most populous country in the world. The population of the country is more than 1.3 billion. There are many religions prevalent in the country, it includes diverse languages and cultures and people speaking different languages are scattered in different parts of the country.
Did you know that according to a census analysis, India, with a population of over 121 crores, has 121 languages that are spoken by 10,000 or more people? According to a census analysis, more than 19,500 languages or dialects are spoken as mother tongue in India. Let’s find out the most spoken languages and speakers in the country as per 2011 census.
1. Hindi – spoken by 52.83 crore people
Hindi is the most spoken language in India. It is one of the official languages of the country. According to the 2011 census, the number of people speaking Hindi as their mother tongue has increased in 2011 compared to the 2001 census. In 2001, 41.03% people spoke Hindi as their mother tongue, while in 2011 it increased to 43.63%. Hindi is also the fourth most spoken language in the world after Mandarin, Spanish and English. At present there are 52,83,47,193 Hindi speakers in India. It is spoken in almost all the states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
Hindi is descended from the Sanskrit language and is influenced by Dravidian, Arabic, Portuguese, English, Persian and Turkish languages. Languages spoken in Hindi include Awadhi, Braj and Khadi languages. Do you know that Hindi words are divided into five categories, such as Tatsam, Ardhatsam, Tadbhava, Deshaj and Vaishesh?
2. Bengali – spoken by 9.72 crore people
The second most spoken language of India is Bengali, which is spoken by 9.72 crore citizens i.e. 8.03 percent of the total population. Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mostly in South Asia. It is the most prominent language in most states in the north-east of India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Bengali was initially a secular language of the old Indo-Aryans and was influenced by Persian and Arabic. This language varies from state to state, especially in usage, pronunciation, words and phonetics. In India, Bengali is mostly spoken in the eastern states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam and Tripura. This language is also spoken in the Middle East, America, Australia, Japan, Britain and Canada. Bengali is also a part of the programs offered by Karachi University.
3. Marathi – spoken by 8.30 crore people
A total of 8.30 crore people speak Marathi in the country, which is 6.86 percent of the total population. Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken as the official language of the states in the western part of the country, including Goa and Maharashtra. About 42 different dialects are spoken in Marathi. Do you know that there are three genders in Marathi grammar?
4. Telugu – spoken by 8.11 crore people
Telugu is a Dravidian language which is widely spoken in many states of the country in India. This language is mainly spoken in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Yanam. Other dialects in its speech include Berad, Wadaga, Domara, Salavari, Nellore, Komtao and Kamathi. This language is also spoken in many countries including the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
5. Tamil – 6.90 crore speakers
The roots of Tamil language are linked to Dravidian language. However, it is the official language of both Singapore and Sri Lanka and is also widely spoken in India. 6.90 crore people speak Tamil in the country. Did you know that Tamil is remarkably known as one of the oldest living languages in the world? Its literary tradition is more than 2,000 years old. Most of the Tamil language is spoken in southern India near the Sri Lankan coast.
6. Gujarati – spoken by 5.54 crore people
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by 5.54 crore people in India. It is the official language of Gujarat, a state located in northwest India. Let us tell you that Gujarati language has developed from Sanskrit.
7. Urdu – spoken by 5.07 crore people
There are approximately 5.07 crore Urdu speakers in India. Urdu is also one of the official languages of the country. It is listed as an official language in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Jharkhand. Let us tell you that Urdu is also the official language of Pakistan.
8. Kannada – spoken by 4.37 crore people
Like Tamil, Kannada is also a Dravidian language. It is spoken by 4.37 crore people in India. Did you know that Kannada is one of the oldest living languages in the world? This language is also spoken outside India in places like Australia, the United States and Canada. Many of these speakers are also members of the Indian diaspora. It is estimated that there are about 20 different dialects in Kannada.
9. Oriya – spoken by 3.75 crore people
Oriya is the official language of India and most of its speakers are concentrated in the state of Odisha. This language is spoken by 3.75 crore speakers across the country.
10. Malayalam – spoken by 3.48 crore people
About 3.48 crore speakers in India speak Malayalam, which is spoken in the states of Kerala, Puducherry and Lakshadweep. The roots of this language are also from Dravidian language.
English language – spoken by 2,59,678 people
Along with Hindi, the English language is also one of the official languages of the federal government of India. In some states of India such as Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, English is an official language. Since the days of the East India Company in the 1800s, English has been taught in schools in India.
Since a variety of languages are spoken in India and there is no barrier in the medium of communication between the speakers as most of the Indians are multilingual. It is observed that most of the people of India speak English, Hindi and one mother tongue. Now, English is not considered as a foreign language as it is the most common way of communication between the people in the south and north of India. So now you must have come to know about the most spoken languages in India according to the number of speakers.