Hindustani

 
Pronunciation: /ˌhɪndʊˈstɑːni/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a group of mutually intelligible languages and dialects spoken in NW India, principally Hindi and Urdu.
  • the Delhi dialect of Hindi, widely used throughout India as a lingua franca.

adjective

  • relating to the culture of NW India: Hindustani classical music

Hindustani was the usual term in the 18th and 19th centuries for the native language of NW India. The usual modern term is Hindi (or Urdu in Muslim contexts), although Hindustani is still used to refer to the dialect of Hindi spoken around Delhi.