hindi
UK[ˈhɪndi]US[ˈhɪndi]
n
An Indo-Aryan language that is the official language of India.
adj
Relating to Hindi, its speakers, or their culture.
Etymology
The term 'Hindi' originates from the Persian word 'Hindī', meaning 'of or relating to Hind (India)'. 'Hind' itself derives from the Sanskrit name for the Indus River, 'Sindhu'. Through Old Persian, this became 'Hindu', which passed into Arabic and later Persian as 'Hind'. The Persian suffix '-ī' forms adjectives of relation. Thus, the word's journey, from a geographical reference to a specific river, evolved into a broad cultural and linguistic identifier for the dominant language of northern India.
Analysis
The word 'Hindi' is a loanword from Persian, where 'Hind' refers to the region of the Indus River and the Indian subcontinent, and the suffix '-ī' denotes belonging or relation.
Examples
Hindi is written in the Devanagari script.
She is taking a course in Hindi literature.
The film's dialogue was a mix of Hindi and English.