List of Dialects in India

India is a land renowned for its incredible linguistic diversity, where the sounds of countless tongues intertwine across its vast landscapes. While major languages often take the spotlight, it’s the rich tapestry of dialects that truly paints a comprehensive picture of its vibrant linguistic heritage, reflecting centuries of history, migration, and cultural fusion.

Delving into this intricate world, we present a comprehensive List of Dialects in India. This compilation details 48 distinct dialects, showcasing a vast spectrum from the melodious Awadhi to the vibrant Varhadi. For each entry, you’ll find below key information organized by its Parent Language, Primary Region, and Estimated Speakers (millions), offering a clearer understanding of their place within the broader linguistic family.

What distinguishes a language from a dialect in India’s context?

In India, the distinction between a language and a dialect is often fluid and influenced by social, cultural, and political factors more than purely linguistic ones. Generally, a dialect is considered a variation of a language that is mutually intelligible with other forms of that language, differing primarily in pronunciation, vocabulary, and minor grammatical points. However, a “dialect” can sometimes gain “language” status due to historical significance, a distinct literary tradition, or official recognition, even if it shares significant common ground with another language.

Dialects in India

Images and Descriptions

Khariboli

Prestige dialect that formed the basis of standard Hindi and Urdu; clear grammar and vocabulary used in media and administration.

Braj

Classical literary dialect associated with Krishna bhakti poetry and traditional folk songs; distinct poetic forms and vocabulary.

Awadhi

Renowned for Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas and rich oral literature; softer vowels and unique verb forms shape its identity.

Bundeli

Central Indian speech with characteristic verb endings and a strong tradition of ballads and folk performance.

Bagheli

Transitional dialect between Awadhi and Chhattisgarhi with lively folk songs and local idioms.

Chhattisgarhi

Distinct regional variety with its own phonology and vocabulary; central to local festivals, music and drama.

Kannauji

Closely related to Khariboli but with different intonation patterns; common in central-west UP towns and villages.

Haryanvi

Robust rural dialect with unique pronouns and emphatic forms; famous for rustic folk music and bolstered consonants.

Mewati

Blend of Rajasthani and Haryanvi traits spoken by the Meo community; notable for its cultural continuity and festivals.

Marwari

One of the largest Rajasthani varieties with rich oral epics, distinct retroflex sounds and vibrant folk traditions.

Mewari

Deep-rooted local dialect with storied ballads and a strong cultural identity centred on Udaipur and surrounding areas.

Dhundhari

Influential dialect around Jaipur with lexical forms that informed courtly speech in historical times.

Shekhawati

Known for its painted havelis and a dialect reflecting regional commerce and folk literature.

Malvi

Transitional dialect showing features of both Rajasthani and Hindi; rich oral storytelling tradition.

Nimadi

Local variety with distinctive stress patterns and rural cultural expressions tied to the Narmada valley.

Majhi

Prestige Punjabi dialect that forms the basis for standard Punjabi; clear tonal contrasts used in literature and media.

Malwai

Southern Punjabi dialect with distinctive vocabulary and folk-song traditions like Malwai Giddha.

Doabi

Regional variety influenced by neighbouring dialects; known for lively agricultural folk culture.

Dakhini (Deccani)

Historic southern Urdu variety blending Persian, Marathi, Telugu and Kannada influences; marked by unique lexicon.

Hyderabadi Urdu

City-specific variant with playful idioms and strong Telugu-Marathi influence; famous in cinema and popular culture.

Varhadi

Distinctive phonology and vocabulary that mark Vidarbha identity; widely used in local literature and music.

Malvani

Coastal speech blending Marathi and Konkani elements, known for unique culinary and nautical vocabulary.

Goan Konkani

Goa’s principal Konkani variety featuring Portuguese loanwords and diverse religious and cultural expressions.

Mangalorean Konkani

Coastal dialect influenced by Tulu and Kannada with a strong Catholic and temple music tradition.

Kathiawadi

Robust western Gujarati dialect with distinctive pronunciation and vibrant folk song culture.

Surti

Urbanized Gujarati variety shaped by trade vocabulary and multicultural contact.

Kutchi

Mix of Sindhi, Gujarati and regional tribal tongues; known for unique oral epics and craft-related vocabulary.

Rarhi

Core Bengali dialect around Kolkata that heavily influenced standard literary Bengali and modern media.

Varendri/Rangpur

Northern Bengali variety with its own melodic patterns and strong folk traditions.

Sylheti

Highly divergent Bengali variety with distinct pronunciation and a large diaspora presence.

Sambalpuri

Western Odia variant celebrated through Sambalpuri dance, folk songs and distinct vocabulary.

Baleswari

Coastal dialect with maritime lexicon and strong local poetic traditions.

Kamrupi

Conservative Assamese variety retaining older grammatical features and a rich oral culture.

Goalpariya

Border dialect blending Assamese and Bengali influences with lively folk musical forms.

Telangana Telugu

Distinct intonation and vocabulary shaped by centuries of contact with Marathi, Urdu and Kannada; strong cinematic and folk presence.

Coastal Andhra Telugu

Melodic and fluid Telugu variety widely heard in literature and cinema; large speaker base along the coast.

Rayalaseema Telugu

Harsher consonants and idioms reflecting local identity and history; prominent in regional folklore.

Mysuru Kannada

Polished southern Kannada dialect with its own literary and performance traditions, respectful forms and clear enunciation.

Dharwad Kannada

Influential in classical Kannada music and literature; known for its distinctive phonetics.

Malabar Malayalam

Dialect with strong Mappila Muslim cultural influences, unique lexicon and distinctive song forms.

Central Kerala Malayalam

Moderate, widely understood Malayalam variety often used in media and education.

Travancore Malayalam

Soft-sounding southern dialect with ritual vocabularies and strong classical arts connections.

Kongu Tamil

Rural western Tamil variety with unique pronunciations and strong regional identity.

Madurai Tamil

Traditional southern dialect with deep links to folk theatre, songs and older literary idioms.

Chennai Tamil

Urban dialect strongly influenced by English and Telugu; prevalent in cinema and city life.

Kishtwari

Mountain dialect with Dardic features and local lexical items reflecting highland culture.

Kangri

Western Pahari dialect with melodic intonation and a rich repertoire of local songs and proverbs.

Jammu Dogri

Regional Dogri variety blending Punjabi and Pahari traits; central to local storytelling and theatre.