Hindi vs. Tamil — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Hindi is a major language of India, using Devanagari script, while Tamil is a Dravidian language of South India and Sri Lanka, using Tamil script.
Difference Between Hindi and Tamil
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hindi, an Indo-Aryan language, is widely spoken in North India. Tamil, a Dravidian language, is predominant in South India and parts of Sri Lanka.
The script used for Hindi is Devanagari, while Tamil has its own unique script, also called Tamil.
Hindi has many dialects and has absorbed words from Persian and Arabic. Tamil is one of the oldest living languages and has a rich classical literature.
Hindi is one of the official languages of India and is used in government and media. Tamil, also an official language in India, has a strong cultural identity and is used in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
While Hindi grammar is influenced by Sanskrit, Tamil grammar is unique to the Dravidian language family and differs significantly from Hindi.
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Comparison Chart
Language Family
Indo-Aryan
Dravidian
Script
Devanagari
Tamil
Geographical Spread
Predominant in North India
Predominant in South India, Sri Lanka
Linguistic Influence
Influences from Persian, Arabic
Ancient, with little external influence
Grammar
Influenced by Sanskrit
Unique Dravidian structure
Compare with Definitions
Hindi
An Indo-Aryan language
Hindi is spoken by millions in India.
Tamil
A Dravidian language
Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu, India.
Hindi
Has multiple dialects
Hindi dialects vary across regions.
Tamil
Distinct grammar
Tamil grammar is notably different from Hindi.
Hindi
Absorbs foreign elements
Hindi has absorbed Persian words.
Tamil
Spoken in Sri Lanka
Tamil is also spoken in parts of Sri Lanka.
Hindi
One of India's official languages
Hindi is used in official documents.
Tamil
Has its own script
The Tamil script is unique and ancient.
Hindi
Uses Devanagari script
Hindi script is called Devanagari.
Tamil
Strong literary tradition
Tamil literature dates back millennia.
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.
Tamil
A member of a Dravidian people of southern India and northern Sri Lanka.
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.
Tamil
The Dravidian language of the Tamil.
Hindi
Relating to Hindi.
Tamil
Of or relating to the Tamil or their language or culture.
Hindi
A group of vernacular Indic dialects spoken in northern India.
Tamil
Of or pertaining to the Tamils, or to their language.
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.
Tamil
One of a Dravidian race of men native of Northern Ceylon and Southern India.
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.
Tamil
A member of the mixed Dravidian and Caucasoid people of southern India and Sri Lanka
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
Tamil
The Dravidian language spoken since prehistoric times by the Tamil people in southern India and Sri Lanka
Hindi
Of or relating to or supporting Hinduism;
The Hindu faith
Tamil
Of or relating to a speaker of the Tamil language or the language itself;
The Tamil Tigers are fighting the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka
Tamil agglutinative phrases
Common Curiosities
Are Hindi and Tamil mutually intelligible?
No, they are distinct languages with different structures.
What is the main difference between Hindi and Tamil?
Hindi is Indo-Aryan, Tamil is Dravidian.
Which language has more speakers, Hindi or Tamil?
Hindi has more speakers, being one of the most spoken languages globally.
Does Tamil have a rich literary history?
Yes, Tamil has an ancient and rich literary tradition.
Is Hindi influenced by other languages?
Yes, it has influences from Persian and Arabic.
Are both languages used in government in India?
Yes, both are official languages in their respective regions.
Do Hindi and Tamil have the same status in India?
They both are official languages but have different geographical dominance.
Is Tamil a classical language?
Yes, Tamil is recognized as a classical language.
Is Tamil spoken outside of India?
Yes, notably in Sri Lanka and among the Tamil diaspora worldwide.
Is Tamil older than Hindi?
Tamil is one of the oldest living languages, predating the current form of Hindi.
Can a Hindi speaker easily learn Tamil?
It might be challenging due to significant differences in grammar and script.
Do Hindi and Tamil use the same script?
No, Hindi uses Devanagari, while Tamil has its own script.
Are there many dialects in Tamil like Hindi?
Tamil has dialects, but they are less varied than Hindi's.
Does Hindi have a classical status?
Hindi has a rich literary history but is not officially classified as a classical language.
Which language has more external linguistic influence?
Hindi has more external influences compared to Tamil.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba 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.
