Hindustani
Americannoun
adjective
noun
-
the dialect of Hindi spoken in Delhi: used as a lingua franca throughout India
-
a group of languages or dialects consisting of all spoken forms of Hindi and Urdu considered together
adjective
Etymology
Origin of Hindustani
First recorded in 1780–90; Hindustan ( def. ) + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When he returned full time to classical Hindustani music, working with various soloists, he eventually hooked up with Shankar, with whom he then worked almost exclusively.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
While rooted in the Hindustani classical tradition, Hussain possessed an insatiable curiosity that propelled him to explore other genres, leading to ground-breaking collaborations across the world.
From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2024
That meant studying Hindustani music, the basis for classical music in much of South Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and northern India.
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
He knew that Bertram had very little Hindustani, and seemed anxious to increase the obviousness of the fact.
From Cupid in Africa by Wren, P. C.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
