The Magadhi language (also known as Magahi) is a language of India. Magadhi is closely related to Bhojpuri and Maithili and these languages are sometimes referred to as a single language, Bihari. These languages, together with several other related languages, are known as the Bihari languages, which form a sub-group of the Eastern Zone group of Indo-Aryan languages.

Magadhi has as approximately 11 million speakers. It is spoken primarily spoken in the Magadh area of Bihar state. This area includes Patna, Gaya, Nalanda, Rajgir, and other surrounding districts. It is also spoken in some areas of Hazaribagh, Giridih, Palamau, Munger, and Bhagalpur, with some speakers in the Malda District of West Bengal. It is generally written using Devanagari script.

Magadhi is also a religious language; many of the texts of the Jain religion are written in Magadhi. It sounds very similar to Hindi and can be easily understood by someone who is not familiar with it but knows either Hindi or any of the other numerous Bihari languages. It has a very rich and old tradition of folk songs and stories. An earlier form of Magadhi is believed to be the language spoken by the Buddha, and Magadhi may have been the language of ancient kingdom of Magadha, after which Magadh area is named.

External link

Magahi at The Rosetta Project (http://www.rosettaproject.org/live/search/addresourceform?ethnocode=MQM&langname=Magahi)

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