Languages of Nepal: How Many Languages Are Spoken in Nepal?

Overview Languages In Nepal

For a country covering such a small geographic area of only 147,181 square kilometres, the diversity that you find in Nepal is simply astonishing. Home to 126 different ethnic groups, Nepal holds a high place in cultural diversity, with people living in harmony with one another.

While you will find immense unity among the Nepalese people, they also offer you a significant variety of cultural and taste varieties. This diversity applies when we talk about the languages in Nepal as well. Regarding the languages of Nepal, the 2011 census declared that there are 123 languages spoken as mother tongues in Nepal. This accounts for all the different cultures in the nation. All of the 123 languages in Nepal are living languages, which makes cultural diversity even more prominent. Spoken by 44.6% of the nation's population, Nepali is the primary language. Following the Nepali language, the Maithili language is second at 11.7%. Maithili is a very ancient language that has kept its value and identity alive. Besides these two major languages, various ethnic groups speak other major languages in Nepal. Twelve languages have been recognized to have a higher percentage among the languages spoken in Nepal.

The remaining languages are spoken by less than one per cent of the population, and many of them have been declared as being in danger of extinction. Below, we have described the various languages of Nepal so it is easier for you to understand the languages of Nepal if you are planning a holiday here.

Major Languages Spoken In Nepal

• Nepali
• Maithili
• Bhojpuri
• Tharu
• Tamang

List of 10 Languages Most Spoken in Nepal

1. Nepali - National Language Of Nepal

Understood and accepted by all, the Nepali language stands as the national language of Nepal. People called it 'Khas Kura' during ancient times. Since then, it has come a long way and taken its original form as Nepali. Taking its roots in the Sanskrit language, the Nepali language reflects the glorious history of Nepal in every letter. Despite its derivation from Sanskrit, Nepali has some influence from Tibeto-Burman languages, too. Because of its popularity among the citizens, it also serves as the Official Language of Nepal.

With the highest population of about 44.6 per cent of people speaking the Nepali language, it is the principal language in the country. With the most native speakers of the language in Nepal, it is also spoken by people of Nepali origin worldwide. Derived from Sanskrit, the Nepali language is considered the closest to Sanskrit. The Nepali language uses the Devanagari script, which is widely used in Nepali government documentation.

2. Maithili

The Maithili language is Nepal's second most spoken language, mainly in the Terai region of Nepal. The name for the Maithili language was derived from the Mithila region of Nepal, which is known for its rich ancient culture. The significant demographics of this language live in the southeastern Terai of Nepal. The main areas where this language is expressed are the Janakpur, Sagarmatha and Koshi Zones in Terai. It is also spoken widely in parts of India like Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.

3. Bhojpuri

With six percent of the population of Nepal speaking Bhojpuri, it is Nepal's third most spoken language. It is mainly spoken in the southern part of Nepal. Some districts with most people speaking Bhojpuri are Chitwan, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. It is also one of the majorly spoken languages in parts of India.

4. Tharu

Spoken by about 5.8 per cent of the total population, the Tharu language holds great importance among the Nepalese languages. People living in districts like Kailali, Surkhet, Saptari, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Dang and many more have a majority of people speaking this language. Moreover, different variants of this language are also spoken in different parts.

5. Tamang

With about 5.1 per cent of people in Nepal speaking this language, the Tamang language has different variants that hold an essential place in the list of Nepalese Languages. Five different dialects, eastern Tamang, Eastern Gorkha Tamang, western Tamang, northwestern Tamang, and southwestern Tamang, are the major variants of this language. The language is spoken in places like Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Makwanpur, Lalitpur, Dhading, Chitwan, Nuwakot, Dolakha and Kavreplanchowk.

6. Nepal Bhasa (Newari)

Popular as the language of the native Newari people of Kathmandu, Nepal Bhasa is spoken by 3.2 percent of the population of Nepal, of which the majority are the Indigenous Newari people of the Kathmandu Valley. This is one of the important languages in Nepal as it is widely recognized in the capital city.

7. Bajjika

With a population of about 3 per cent of Nepal speaking this language, it has become quite recognized among the languages of Nepal. This language is spoken chiefly in different districts of Terai like Sarlahi, Rautahat and Mahottari. Bajjika is a Bihari language that swiftly transitions between the Bhojpuri and Maithili languages.

8. Magar

According to the 2011 census, 2.97 per cent of people living in Nepal speak the Magar language. This language is the mother tongue of the Magar ethnic group living in Nepal. The dominant language spoken by the Magar people is Magar Kura. This is mainly spoken in the mid-western, western and eastern hills. The far-west districts Kham Magars use the Kham Magar dialect, while the Dolpa District Magars talk the Tarali or Kaike dialects.

9. Doteli

With the primary demographic that speaks the Doteli Language residing in the western parts, this languages is one of the major languages of Nepal with about 2.97 per cent of the population of Nepal speaking the language. The major districts where people speak this language are Dadeldhura, Bajhang, Doti, Baitadi, Darchula, Bajura, and so on.

10. Urdu

About 2.6 per cent of the population living in Nepal speaks the Urdu language, making it one of the critical languages in Nepal. The primary demographic speaking this language is the Muslims living in the Terai region.

Besides these significant languages spoken in Nepal, some other languages are more important among the various languages of Nepal.

Some of The Other Languages of Nepal Are Listed Below:

• Limbu
• Awadhi
• Gurung
• Rai
• Sherpa
• Hindi
• Chepang

The varied linguistic heritage of Nepal developed from four main groups of languages: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, Mongolian and various isolated indigenous languages.

Among the vast diversity of languages in Nepal, 109 are indigenous, and 13 are non-indigenous. Also, eight are institutional, eighteen are evolving, twenty-eight are vigorous, fifty-eight are facing the troubles of existence, and ten are dying. As a multilingual country, Nepal is home to more than one hundred languages, but minor languages are disappearing with increasing spoken language generalizations. Nepal's wide varieties of languages signify the rich culture and heritage and need to be protected.

Finally,

If you plan a trip to Nepal to explore all these beautiful cultures, you might want to know the status of the English language spoken in Nepal. English has been adopted as a foreign language in Nepal in the past few years. The growth of this language has been significant over the years among the various languages spoken in Nepal. Nepalese people speak English differently, as they have a distinctive accent and language use. The language is more prominent in urban cities like Kathmandu, where people use English as a second language. To add to this, this language is widely used in the tourism business for years. Hence, when it comes to your travel to Nepal, the language barrier will be less of a problem than you'd think.

If you have any more queries relating to the languages of Nepal or anything related to the majestic nation of Nepal, feel free to contact Hop Nepal, and we will answer all your questions.