India, a land of immense cultural diversity, is also a melting pot of languages. With over 122 languages spoken across its states and territories, India boasts one of the world’s most linguistically diverse populations.
Let’s delve into the top 12 most spoken languages in India:
1. Hindi
- Hindi as one the official language of India, Hindi is the most widely spoken language, with over 528 million speakers. Its influence is pervasive, especially in the northern and central regions of the country.
2. Bengali
- Primarily spoken in the eastern Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura, as well as in Bangladesh, Bengali is the second most spoken language in India, with around 97.2 million speakers.
3. Marathi
Predominantly spoken in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Marathi is the third most spoken language, with approximately 83 million speakers.
4. Telugu
- Primarily spoken in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Telugu is the fourth most spoken language, with around 81.1 million speakers.
5. Tamil
- Primarily spoken in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as well as in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia, Tamil is the fifth most spoken language, with around 69 million speakers.
6. Gujarati
- Primarily spoken in the western Indian state of Gujarat, Gujarati is the sixth most spoken language, with around 55.4 million speakers.
7. Urdu
- Primarily spoken in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as in Pakistan, Urdu is the seventh most spoken language, with around 50.7 million speakers.
8. Kannada
- Primarily spoken in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, Kannada is the eighth most spoken language, with around 43.7 million speakers.
9. Odia
- Primarily spoken in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, Odia is the ninth most spoken language, with around 37.5 million speakers.
10. Malayalam
- Primarily spoken in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Malayalam is the tenth most spoken language, with around 34.8 million speakers.
11. Punjabi
- Primarily spoken in the northern Indian state of Punjab, as well as in Pakistan, Punjabi is the eleventh most spoken language, with around 33.1 million speakers.
12. Assamese
- Primarily spoken in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Assamese is the twelfth most spoken language, with around 15.3 million speakers.
This linguistic diversity is a testament to India’s rich cultural heritage and its long history of interactions with various civilizations.
It’s a fascinating aspect of Indian society that continues to captivate and intrigue people around the world.
