Telugu

Telugu is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It belongs to the South-Central branch of the Dravidian language family and is closely related to Kannada.

It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and was designated a classical language in 2008. It is the official language of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and is widely spoken in neighboring states and among the Indian diaspora.

Telugu is written in the Telugu script, an abugida derived from Brahmi. The script is used for Telugu and historically Sanskrit; it is noted for its rounded, curvilinear letters. Transliterations into the Latin alphabet are common in academic and international contexts.

Estimates place native speakers around 75–80 million, with total speakers exceeding 90 million when second-language users are included. Telugu is spoken by communities across India and in countries with Indian emigrants, including the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.

Telugu literature has a continuous tradition dating to the 11th century, with early poets such as Nannaya, Tikkana, and Errana. The language flourished during the Vijayanagara period and in modern times developed a prolific drama, poetry, and film tradition known as Tollywood.

Dialects include Coastal Andhra, Telangana, and Rayalaseema, with regional variation in phonology and vocabulary.

Telugu holds official status in its states and is used in education and government; it is also designated a classical language for its historical and literary contributions.