HindiEnglish

HindiEnglish, commonly referred to as Hinglish, is a form of language contact that blends Hindi and English within sentences and discourse. It is used in speech and writing and spans from casual conversation to media content, advertising, and online communication.

Geographic and social contexts are key to its development. It is predominantly spoken in India but is also common among South Asian diaspora communities. HindiEnglish emerged from prolonged exposure to English through education, media, and urban life, and it features frequent code-switching, with speakers alternating languages within phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Linguistic features include lexical borrowing from English into Hindi, occasional English word order in otherwise Hindi syntax, and the use of English function words alongside Hindi grammar. Orthography is often mixed or transliterated, with users employing Latin script for both languages in informal writing, such as social media posts and texting.

Usage and attitudes vary by context and audience. HindiEnglish is widely used in everyday conversation, popular culture, advertising, and digital communication, helping bridge communication among bilingual speakers. It can facilitate expression and reach but is sometimes criticized for undermining standard language norms or literacy practices. Attitudes toward HindiEnglish differ across regions, age groups, and social communities, reflecting broader debates about language prestige and identity.

See also Hinglish; code-switching; bilingualism.