Hindi vs Urdu: Understanding the Differences & Similarities

Hindi and Urdu are often considered two registers of the same language. This guide explains their similarities, differences, and mutual intelligibility.

The Big Picture

Key Fact: Spoken Hindi and Urdu are largely the same. The main differences are in:

**Script**: Hindi uses Devanagari (देवनागरी), Urdu uses Persian-Arabic (نستعلیق)

**Formal vocabulary**: Hindi borrows from Sanskrit, Urdu from Arabic/Persian

**Geography**: Hindi in India, Urdu in Pakistan (though both spoken in both countries)

Historical Background

Shared Origins

Both evolved from:

**Hindustani**: Common language of North India

**Khari Boli**: Dialect of Delhi region

**Mughal period**: Persian/Arabic influences

Divergence

Political and cultural factors led to:

Hindi standardization with Sanskrit vocabulary

Urdu standardization with Persian/Arabic vocabulary

Script Differences

Hindi (Devanagari)

Written left to right

Each letter represents a sound

Horizontal line connects letters

Learn to write Hindi with our [Devanagari guide](/blog/devanagari-script-writing).

Urdu (Nastaliq)

Written right to left

Cursive, flowing script

Letters connect fluidly

Vocabulary Comparison

Everyday Words (Same)

पानी (paani) / پانی (pānī) - Water

खाना (khaana) / کھانا (khānā) - Food

घर (ghar) / گھر (ghar) - House

These common words are identical in both languages.

Formal/Literary Words (Different)

Example: "Library"

Hindi: पुस्तकालय (pustakalaya) - from Sanskrit

Urdu: کتب خانہ (kutub khana) - from Arabic/Persian

Example: "Good"

Hindi (formal): उत्तम (uttam) - Sanskrit

Urdu (formal): عمدہ (umda) - Persian

Both (informal): अच्छा/اچھا (accha)

Grammar Similarities

Both Share:

Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order

Gender system (masculine/feminine)

Similar verb conjugations

Postpositions instead of prepositions

Practice grammar with our [sentence examples](/sentences/examples).

Mutual Intelligibility

Spoken Language

**Everyday conversation**: 80-90% mutual intelligibility

**Formal speeches**: May diverge significantly

**Cinema/TV**: Bollywood uses Hindustani (mix of both)

Written Language

**Scripts**: Completely different, not mutually intelligible

**Content**: Vocabulary differences increase in formal writing

Which Should You Learn?

Learn Hindi If:

Planning to visit/live in India

Interested in Bollywood movies

Want to read Hindi literature

Use our [learn Hindi guide](/blog/learn-hindi-for-beginners) to start.

Learn Urdu If:

Planning to visit/live in Pakistan

Interested in Urdu poetry (ghazals, nazms)

Want to study Islamic texts in original script

Learn Both If:

You love South Asian culture

Want maximum communication range

Interested in comparative linguistics

Practical Learning Tips

Start with Spoken Hindustani

Learn [100 common words](/blog/100-common-hindi-words)

Practice [daily sentences](/sentences/daily-use)

Master [pronunciation](/blog/hindi-pronunciation-guide)

Then Choose Your Script

Hindi script: Use our [Barakhadi chart](/barakhadi)

Practice with [typing tool](/typing)

Expand Vocabulary

Learn both Sanskrit and Persian/Arabic-origin words

Understand context for formal vs informal

Watch content in both languages

Cultural Context

Hindi

Official language of India (along with English)

Used in government, education, media

Growing global influence

Urdu

National language of Pakistan

Rich literary tradition

Renowned for poetry and ghazals

Common Misconceptions

Myth #1: "They're completely different languages"

Reality: Spoken forms are highly similar

Myth #2: "You can't understand one if you learn the other"

Reality: Spoken comprehension is 80-90%

Myth#3: "Grammar is different"

Reality: Grammar structures are nearly identical

Conclusion

Hindi and Urdu are more similar than different. Learning one gives you access to the other, especially in spoken form. The script difference is the main barrier, but vocabulary overlap is high for everyday communication.

Start with spoken Hindustani using our [conversation guide](/blog/hindi-conversation-phrases), then choose which script to master!