Magahi

A language of India

Bihari, Magadhi, Magaya, Maghai, Maghaya, Maghori, Magi, Magodhi, Megahi

मगही‎ (magahī)

20,700,000 in India (2011 census). 8,000,000 Khortha and 12,700,000 Magahi (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 20,746,400 (as L1: 20,735,600; as L2: 10,800).

Location

Bihar state: Arwal, Aurangabad, western Bhagalpur, Gaya, Jehanabad, western Munger, Nalanda, Nawada, eastern Patna, and Sheikhpura districts; Jharkhand state: Giridih, Hazaribagh, Palamu, southern Ranchi districts, and north Chota Nagpur area.

Language Maps

India, Map 4

Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bihari

Dialects

Central Magahi, Khortha (Khotta), Eastern Magahi. Greatly influenced by standardized Hindi [hin].

Language Use

Shifting to Hindi [hin] among formally educated Magahi users and among those who have migrated to the cities (2020 M. Bhushan). Religion. Some of all ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin], especially educated people, city-dwellers, and those who travel.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 30%. Literacy rate in L2: 30% in Hindi [hin]. Bhojpuri [bho] can use Magahi materials. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. NT: 1826–2016.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Magahi

Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Hindu, Jain, traditional religion.