1.1.2 Where Urdu is spoken

Historical background of Urdu and its spread

Urdu is a major language of South Asia. It developed in the Indian subcontinent over many centuries, in contact with Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and local languages like Hindi, Punjabi, and others. Because of this long history and cultural importance, Urdu is now spoken in many regions and communities, not just one country.

Urdu is used both as a mother tongue and as a link language between people who have different native languages. In some places it is an official or national language. In other places it is a minority language, but it is important for culture, media, or religion.

In this chapter, you will see where Urdu is spoken and in what situations people use it.

Urdu in Pakistan

National language and lingua franca

In Pakistan, Urdu is the national language and one of the main languages of education, media, and government. It is used to connect people from many different ethnic groups who speak different mother tongues, such as Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, Saraiki, and others.

In big cities of Pakistan, you often hear people switching between Urdu and English, and sometimes mixing them in the same sentence. This is called code switching and is very common in everyday conversation.

Where you hear Urdu in Pakistan

You can hear Urdu in many places in Pakistan. Here are some general examples:

Even in areas where another language is dominant, for example Punjabi in Lahore or Sindhi in interior Sindh, Urdu is usually understood by many people and used when people from different language groups interact.

Native Urdu speakers in Pakistan

Although Urdu is the national language, not all Pakistanis speak it as their first language. Native Urdu speakers, often called Muhajirs in Pakistan, are concentrated mainly in urban areas such as:

• Karachi
• Hyderabad (in Sindh)
• Parts of Sukkur
• Some neighborhoods in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other large cities

Many other Pakistanis speak Urdu as a second language, but with high fluency. So as a learner, if you travel in Pakistan, Urdu will usually help you communicate almost everywhere.

Urdu in India

Official status in India

In India, Urdu is an official language in several states and one of the 22 scheduled languages recognized by the Indian constitution. It has a long literary and cultural history in North India.

Some Indian states and territories where Urdu has official status include:

Where Urdu is spoken in India

In India, Urdu is spoken by different communities. It is especially common in:

• Old city areas of major cities, such as Old Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Aligarh
• Muslim communities across North India, Central India, and some parts of South India
• Literary and cultural circles, for poetry, ghazals, and religious discourse

In many places, Urdu exists side by side with Hindi. The spoken forms can be very close in casual conversation, but Urdu traditionally uses Nastaliq script and has a stronger influence from Persian and Arabic vocabulary.

Typical situations in India where Urdu appears

• Education: Urdu medium schools and madrasas
• Media: Urdu newspapers, TV channels, and radio stations
• Culture: Mushairas (poetry gatherings), qawwali, ghazal performances
• Religion: Religious speeches, books, and lectures in some Muslim communities

Even people who say they speak “Hindi” might understand a lot of Urdu vocabulary, especially in cities in North India. As a learner, your Urdu will often be understood in many Hindi speaking regions, especially in informal speech.

Urdu in other South Asian countries

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, Urdu is not a majority language, but there are Urdu speaking communities, often descendants of people who migrated during the time of British India and before the independence of Bangladesh.

You may find Urdu used:

• In certain urban communities and neighborhoods
• In some religious and cultural contexts
• In small media outlets or community organizations

However, Bengali (Bangla) is the main national language, and Urdu is a minority language there.

Nepal, Sri Lanka, and others

Urdu speaking communities also exist, in smaller numbers, in:

• Nepal: among some Muslim communities
• Sri Lanka: in certain Muslim populations
• Other South Asian regions: especially where there are historical trading or religious links with North India and Pakistan

In these places, Urdu is usually used within the community rather than as a national language.

Urdu in the global diaspora

Urdu has traveled far beyond South Asia because of migration for work, study, and family reasons. Today, you can hear Urdu in many parts of the world.

Middle East and Gulf countries

Many workers and professionals from Pakistan and India live in Gulf countries. There, Urdu often serves as a shared language among South Asians.

Countries where you can hear Urdu in markets, workplaces, and neighborhoods include:

• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Bahrain

In these countries, you may see Urdu:

• On signs in areas with many South Asian workers
• In informal workplaces and worker housing
• In community mosques and religious events
• In South Asian shops and restaurants

However, the official languages of these countries are usually Arabic and sometimes English, not Urdu.

Europe and North America

Large Urdu speaking communities live in:

• United Kingdom: especially in cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bradford
• United States: in cities like New York, Houston, Chicago, New Jersey areas, and others
• Canada: especially in Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vancouver
• Other European countries: such as Norway, Denmark, Germany, Italy, and Spain, though in smaller numbers

In these countries, Urdu is often used:

• At home within families
• In community centers and mosques
• In ethnic media, for example local Urdu radio shows, TV channels, and newspapers
• In cultural events, such as poetry nights, music concerts, religious gatherings

You might also see:

• Shop signs in Urdu in some neighborhoods
• Bilingual flyers and posters, for example English and Urdu

Official languages in these countries are different, but Urdu helps keep cultural and family connections alive.

Other regions with Urdu speakers

Smaller but significant Urdu speaking communities can be found in:

• South Africa and some other African countries
• Australia and New Zealand
• Parts of Central Asia and Southeast Asia, often connected to trade and education

Wherever South Asian communities have settled, it is common to find at least some Urdu speakers.

Urdu as a language of religion and culture

In many Muslim communities from South Asia, Urdu has a special place in religious and cultural life, even when it is not the main national language.

You may encounter Urdu:

• In religious lectures and sermons for South Asian audiences
• In Islamic literature written for Urdu speaking communities
• In naats (religious poetry), qawwalis, and devotional songs
• In wedding ceremonies and cultural rituals

Because of this, some people learn basic Urdu to understand religious talks or poetry, even if they live outside Pakistan or India.

Spoken Urdu vs community languages

Urdu is often used as a shared language between people from different language backgrounds. For example:

• A Punjabi speaker and a Sindhi speaker in Karachi may use Urdu to talk to each other.
• In Dubai, a Bangladeshi, a Pakistani, and an Indian worker may all use Urdu to communicate.
• In London, young people from Pakistani and Indian backgrounds might use a mix of Urdu and English with friends.

In many cases, you will hear mixed speech, for example:

• Urdu with English words in London or Toronto.
• Urdu with Arabic words and local slang in the Gulf.

As a beginner, focus first on clear, standard Urdu. Later, you will naturally get used to local varieties and mixtures when you listen to real conversations.

Practical importance for learners

Understanding where Urdu is spoken helps you decide how and why you want to learn it.

Some practical reasons:

• If you travel to Pakistan, Urdu will help you everywhere in cities and most tourist areas.
• If you visit North India or Hyderabad, Urdu will help you in cultural settings and with many local people.
• If you live in a city with a large South Asian community, such as London or Toronto, Urdu can help you connect socially and culturally.
• If you are interested in Urdu poetry, music, or religious talks, knowing the language will give you direct access to those texts and performances.

Urdu is not only a language of one country. It is a language of a wide cultural space across South Asia and the global diaspora.

Example situations: where Urdu might be used

Here are some short example descriptions to show how Urdu appears in daily life in different places.

1. In Karachi (Pakistan)
• A shopkeeper speaks Urdu with customers from different provinces.
• A schoolteacher teaches science in Urdu to students whose home language is Sindhi.
2. In Lucknow (India)
• A poetry evening (mushaira) is held in Urdu.
• An Urdu newspaper is sold at the local tea shop.
3. In Dubai (UAE)
• Construction workers from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh talk in Urdu at lunchtime.
• A small restaurant plays Urdu songs and has an Urdu menu for South Asian customers.
4. In Birmingham (UK)
• A family speaks Urdu at home but uses English at work and school.
• A mosque offers weekly religious classes in Urdu for adults.
5. In Toronto (Canada)
• A community radio station broadcasts a nightly Urdu talk show.
• A grocery store has labels in English and Urdu to help elderly customers.

These examples show that Urdu is alive in many different environments and serves many roles.