Page Type: languageBhojpuri | Ethnologue

BHO ISO 639-3

Bhojpuri

भोजपुरी‎ (Bhōjpurī) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
bho
Alternate Names
Bajpuri, Bhojapuri, Bhozpuri, Deswali, Khotla, Piscimas, “Bihari” (pej.)
Autonym
भोजपुरी‎ (Bhōjpurī)
Population
50,600,000 in India (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 52,463,000 (as L1: 52,303,000; as L2: 160,000).
Location:
Assam state; Bihar state: Champaran, Saran, and Shahabad districts; Delhi; Jharkhand state: Palamau and Ranchi districts; Madhya Pradesh state; Uttar Pradesh state: Azamgarh, Ballia, Basti, Deoria, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur, and Varanasi districts; West Bengal state.
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari
Dialects
Northern Standard Bhojpuri (Basti, Gorakhpuri, Sarawaria), Western Standard Bhojpuri (Benarsi, Purbi), Southern Standard Bhojpuri (Kharwari), Bhojpuri Tharu, Madhesi, Domra, Musahari. May be more than 1 language. Extent of dialect variation in India and Nepal not yet determined. The cover term “Bihari” (a pejorative alternate name for Bhojpuri) is also used for Maithili [mai], and Magahi [mag]. Bhojpuri Tharu dialect is spoken by Tharu caste in Nepal and India. Distinct from other Tharu languages.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine for animate nouns); content q-word in situ; clause constituents indicated by both case-marking (3 cases) and word order; verbal affixation marks person, number and genders of subject and object; no ergativity; tense and aspect; non-tonal; 34 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes, about 4 diphthongs; stress on penultimate syllable.
Language Use
Many also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Maithili [mai].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 5%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1998–2006.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bhojpuri
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva]. Kaithi script [Kthi].
Other Comments
Hindu, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Bhojpuri
User Population
66,000 in Mauritius (Leclerc 2018c).
Location
Widespread.
Dialects
Mauritian Bhojpuri, Bojpury.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Non-indigenous. Although often called Hindi, the language is Bhojpuri. Hindu.
View other languages of Mauritius
Language Name
Bhojpuri
User Population
1,740,000 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 1,580,000 in Nepal (2011 census), increasing. L2 users: 160,000 (2011 census).
Location
Janakpur province: Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat districts; Lumbini province: West Nawalparasi and Rupandehi districts.
Dialects
Bhojpuri Tharu, Purbi Boli, Bangar Boli, Banarsi Boli, Kashika, Mallika, Sheikh Boli.
Language Status
4 (Educational)
Other Comments
Hindu, Muslim.
View other languages of Nepal
Language Name
Bhojpuri
User Population
57,000 in South Africa (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of South Africa

Map

Location: Assam state; Bihar state: Champaran, Saran, and Shahabad districts; Delhi; Jharkhand state: Palamau and Ranchi districts; Madhya Pradesh state; Uttar Pradesh state: Azamgarh, Ballia, Basti, Deoria, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Mirzapur, and Varanasi districts; West Bengal state.