Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Urdu spoken?

Urdu is the national language of Pakistan and is spoken widely in Pakistan and India. Urdu-speaking communities can also be found across South Asia and throughout the global diaspora.

If I learn Urdu, will it help me with any other languages?

Everyday spoken Urdu and Hindi share much of their grammar and basic vocabulary, so learning one can make conversation in the other easier. Their standard written forms differ: Urdu normally uses a Perso-Arabic script in the Nastaliq style, while Hindi uses Devanagari. Learning the Urdu alphabet can also make some letter forms in Persian and Arabic more familiar, although each language has its own spelling and pronunciation.

Are Hindi and Urdu two different forms of the same language?

Standard Urdu and standard Hindi are closely related registers of Hindustani. Their conversational forms are often mutually intelligible, but formal vocabulary can differ: Urdu draws more heavily on Persian and Arabic, while Hindi draws more heavily on Sanskrit.

Their writing systems are distinct. Hindi is written from left to right in Devanagari; Urdu is written from right to left in a Perso-Arabic script, commonly displayed in the Nastaliq calligraphic style.