Page Type: languageBhili | Ethnologue

BHB ISO 639-3

Bhili

भीली‎ (Bhīlī) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
bhb
Alternate Names
Bhagoria, Bhil, Bhilbari, Bhilboli, Bhilla, Bhilodi, Lengotia, Vil
Autonym
भीली‎ (Bhīlī)
Population
3,290,000 (2011 census). 10,400,000 for all Bhil languages (2011 census).
Location:
Gujarat state: Dohad, Panch Mahals, and Sabarkantha districts; Madhya Pradesh state: Dhar, Indore, Jhabua, Khargone, and Ratlam districts; Rajasthan state: Banswara, Dungapur, and Udaipur districts.
Language Status
5* (Developing).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Bhil
Dialects
Ahiri, Anarya (Pahadi), Bhilodi, Bhim, Charani, Habura, Konkani, Kotali (Kotvali, Kotwalia), Magra Ki Boli, Nahari (Baglani), Naikdi, Panchali, Patelia, Ranawat, Rani Bhil, Siyalgir, Valvi, Labani. Bhili of Ratlam District in Madhya Pradesh is inherently intelligible with Wagdi [wbr] and a connecting link between Gujarati [guj] and Rajasthani (Marwari) [mve].
Language Use
Spoken as L1 by the Patelia in Madhya Pradesh. Many also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 10%. Literature. Radio. TV. Videos. NT: 1930.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bhili
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva]. Gujarati script [Gujr].
Other Comments
‘Bhil’ is an ethnic designation (caste or tribe). Bhili is a Scheduled Tribe in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura; Kotwalia is a Scheduled Tribe in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Dewali (Dehawali) is a cover term for Vasavi and Kotali, among others. Traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Gujarat state: Dohad, Panch Mahals, and Sabarkantha districts; Madhya Pradesh state: Dhar, Indore, Jhabua, Khargone, and Ratlam districts; Rajasthan state: Banswara, Dungapur, and Udaipur districts.