Hindi vs. Punjabi — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 25, 2023

Hindi and Punjabi are distinct languages originating from India. Hindi, predominantly spoken in North India, uses Devanagari script, while Punjabi, the language of the Punjab region, is written in Gurmukhi script.

Difference Between Hindi and Punjabi

Table of Contents

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Key Differences

Hindi is one of the most spoken languages in the world and is the official language of India. It primarily uses the Devanagari script and has a rich literary tradition, including poetry, prose, and various forms of drama and discourse. Hindi has absorbed words from various languages, including Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, and has a significant influence on the languages of the Indian subcontinent.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi, on the other hand, is the language of the Punjab regions in both India and Pakistan. It is written in the Gurmukhi script in India and the Shahmukhi script in Pakistan. Punjabi has its literary tradition with rich contributions to poetry, prose, music, and Sikh religious texts. It is known for its vibrant and rhythmic music, which often features themes of love, valor, and everyday life.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi and Punjabi both have different phonologies, grammatical structures, and vocabularies, reflective of their unique linguistic roots and influences. Hindi has more sounds and phonetic diversity, while Punjabi has a tonal nature, with word meanings sometimes being determined by the pitch of the spoken word.

Sep 25, 2023

While both Hindi and Punjabi draw from Sanskrit and have been influenced by Persian and Arabic, the extent and nature of these influences differ. Punjabi has significant influences from Persian due to historical interactions, while Hindi has retained a substantial number of Sanskrit words.

Sep 25, 2023

Despite the differences, Hindi and Punjabi share cultural similarities and mutual intelligibility to some extent, especially in the spoken form, due to geographical proximity and shared cultural context, facilitating intermingling and exchange of words and expressions.

Sep 25, 2023

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Comparison Chart

Script

Written in Devanagari script.

Written in Gurmukhi or Shahmukhi script.

Sep 25, 2023

Region

Predominantly spoken in North India.

Predominantly spoken in the Punjab region.

Sep 25, 2023

Phonology

Has more sounds and phonetic diversity.

Has a tonal nature.

Sep 25, 2023

Literary Tradition

Rich in poetry, prose, and drama.

Known for poetry, music, and Sikh texts.

Sep 25, 2023

Linguistic Influence

Absorbs from Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic.

Significant Persian influences.

Sep 25, 2023

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Compare with Definitions

Hindi

The official language of India, written in the Devanagari script.

Many Bollywood movies are made in Hindi.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi

The language has a significant literary contribution, especially to Sikh religious texts.

The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, is written in Punjabi.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi

A language with a rich literary tradition, including various forms of poetry and prose.

Hindi literature encompasses a wide range of genres and themes.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi

An Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan.

Punjabi is known for its rich musical tradition, including Bhangra.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi

An Indo-Aryan language, primarily spoken in North India.

Hindi is the lingua franca of the Hindi belt in India.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi

Written in the Gurmukhi script in India and the Shahmukhi script in Pakistan.

Learning the Gurmukhi script is essential to read Punjabi in India.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi

A language that serves as a cultural and communicative link among diverse communities in India.

Knowing Hindi is beneficial for communication across different states in India.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi

Known for its rhythmic and vibrant music and dance forms.

Punjabi music is synonymous with energy and rhythm.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi

A language that has absorbed words from multiple languages including Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic.

Hindi vocabulary is enriched with words from different languages.

Sep 25, 2023

Punjabi

A language with words that have tones, affecting the meanings of the words.

The tonal nature of Punjabi can make it challenging for new learners to understand the nuances of the language.

Sep 25, 2023

Hindi

Hindi (Devanagari: हिन्दी, IAST/ISO 15919: Hindī), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: मानक हिन्दी, IAST/ISO 15919: Mānak Hindī), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in India. Hindi has been described as a standardised and Sanskritised register of the Hindustani language, which itself is based primarily on the Khariboli dialect of Delhi and neighbouring areas of Northern India.

Oct 17, 2021

Punjabi

Of or relating to the Punjab or the Punjabi language.

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

An Indic language of northern India, derived from Sanskrit and written in the Devanagari script. It is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, with more than 250 million people speaking it as their first language.

Oct 17, 2021

Punjabi

A native or inhabitant of the Punjab.

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

Relating to Hindi.

Oct 17, 2021

Punjabi

An Indic language spoken in the Punjab.

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

A group of vernacular Indic dialects spoken in northern India.

Oct 17, 2021

Punjabi

A member of the majority people of Punjab in northwestern India

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

The literary and official language of northern India that is based on these dialects. It is written in Devanagari and uses Sanskrit as a resource language.

Oct 17, 2021

Punjabi

The Indic language spoken by most people in Punjab in northwestern India

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

The name given by Europeans to that form of the Hindustani language which is chiefly spoken by native Hindus. In employs the Devanagari character, in which Sanskrit is written.

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

The most widely spoken of modern Indic vernaculars; spoken mostly in the north of India; along with English it is the official language of India; usually written in Devanagari script

Oct 17, 2021

Hindi

Of or relating to or supporting Hinduism;

The Hindu faith

Oct 17, 2021

Common Curiosities

Which script is used for Hindi?

Hindi is written in the Devanagari script.

Sep 25, 2023

What script is Punjabi written in?

Punjabi is written in Gurmukhi script in India and Shahmukhi script in Pakistan.

Sep 25, 2023

Which language has a tonal nature?

Punjabi has a tonal nature, where the pitch can affect the word meanings.

Sep 25, 2023

Are Hindi and Punjabi similar?

They have some similarities due to geographical proximity but are distinct languages with different scripts, phonologies, and vocabularies.

Sep 25, 2023

Are Hindi and Punjabi mutually intelligible?

They have some degree of mutual intelligibility, especially in the spoken form, but are generally considered separate languages.

Sep 25, 2023

Is Hindi only spoken in India?

While predominantly spoken in India, Hindi is also spoken in some other countries and has many speakers worldwide.

Sep 25, 2023

Can Hindi speakers understand Punjabi easily?

Some Hindi speakers may understand Punjabi to some extent due to some shared vocabulary and cultural context, but full understanding may require learning.

Sep 25, 2023

Which language has more phonetic diversity?

Hindi has more sounds and phonetic diversity compared to Punjabi.

Sep 25, 2023

Is Punjabi influenced by other languages?

Yes, Punjabi has significant influences from Persian, among others.

Sep 25, 2023

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Author Spotlight

Written by

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.