Hindi-Urdu

Hindi and Urdu are essentially two standard registers of the same language, often referred to as Hindustani. They share a common grammar and vocabulary but differ primarily in their writing systems and vocabulary influenced by Sanskrit (Hindi) and Persian/Arabic (Urdu). While mutually intelligible, the distinct scripts and literary traditions have contributed to their status as separate languages.

Both languages have virtually identical grammar and syntax. Hindi leans more towards Sanskrit-derived words, while Urdu uses more Persian and Arabic vocabulary. Hindi uses the Devanagari script, and Urdu uses a modified Nastaliq variant of the Arabic script. Hindi is an official language of India, while Urdu is the national language of Pakistan.

Language Sequence

Fall term: 1st, 3rd, 5th semester

Spring term: 2nd, 4th, 6th semester

Hindi-Urdu Curriculum

Elementary language courses: 1st & 2nd Semester

Students will receive instruction in both Devanagari (used for Hindi) and Nastaliq (used for Urdu) scripts.
By the end of the first year course, students will select the script that best aligns with their personal or academic interests to continue using in future coursework.

Intermediate & Advanced language courses: 3rd Semester and above

Students will not be required to learn a new script in the intermediate or advanced levels.
They will continue using the script they selected at the end of the first year.
Course materials and assessments will be available in both scripts to support students’ chosen paths.

Hindi-Urdu Language Table

Contact: Farooq Asif mfasif@wisc.edu

Major

South Asian Studies Major

Certificate

Certificate in South Asian Studies

Study Abroad

Consider various options, visit International Academic Programs for more information.

Internships

An international internship in any field can complement your language study and can provide valuable professional experience.

Summer Language Study Options

South Asia Summer Language Institute

Student Organizations

Discover many student organizations on campus related to your language studies.