Hindustani

American  

[hin-doo-stah-nee, -stan-ee] / ˌhɪn dʊˈstɑ ni, -ˈstæn i /

Also Hindostani or Hindoostani

noun

1. a standard language and lingua franca of northern India based on a dialect of Western Hindi spoken around Delhi. Compare Hindi, Urdu.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Hindustan, its people, or their languages.

Hindustani British  

/ ˌhɪndəʊˈstɑːnɪ, ˌhɪndʊˈstɑːnɪ /

noun

1. the dialect of Hindi spoken in Delhi: used as a lingua franca throughout India

2. a group of languages or dialects consisting of all spoken forms of Hindi and Urdu considered together

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adjective

1. of or relating to these languages or Hindustan

Etymology

Origin of Hindustani

First recorded in 1780–90; Hindustan ( def. ) + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin

Example Sentences

Her work is a duet between traditions, where classically notated orchestral and chamber ensembles dance with improvised, microtonal Hindustani vocals, sitars and violins.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2023

Silver based the opera’s themes on ragas, sets of musical notes that form the scaffolding around which Hindustani musicians create rhythms and melodies, often intertwined with vocals.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2023

Narayanaswamy’s recorded score picked up on the Iberian theme, translating the Hindustani form tarana to classical guitar.

From New York Times • May 16, 2022

"And it acquired different names over its evolution: Hindavi, Hindustani, Hindi, Urdu or Rekhta."

From BBC • May 15, 2022

It should not be necessary for me to have to give the order,” he said as well as he could in his halting Hindustani.

From Cupid in Africa by Wren, P. C.