Nepal is a country located between India and China. Nepali is the most commonly spoken language in the country. It is part of the Indo-European According to the eLinguistics.net analysis using specific software modules to assess linguistic relationships, the five languages most similar to Nepali are Odia, Bengali, Magah, Dogri, and Hindi.
- Odia (86.5)
Spoken primarily in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, Odia shares a close affinity with Nepali. While they have diverged over centuries, their common linguistic roots are apparent in their vocabulary and grammar. The languages share numerous cognates and exhibit similar phonetic patterns. - Bengali (85.7)
Bengali, a language commonly spoken in West Bengal and Bangladesh, is a prominent member of the Indo-Aryan family. It shares a substantial lexical overlap with Nepali and Odia, reflecting the historical and cultural interconnections of the region. Bengali literature has had a significant influence on Nepali literature and culture as well. - Magahi (82.0)
Magahi is another Indo-Aryan language on this list. It is commonly spoken in the Magadha region of Bihar, a region in India in close proximity to Nepali. As a result, both languages share a common linguistic root, resulting in many similar grammatical structures and vocabulary. - Dogri (81.9)
Hailing from the Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir, Dogri shares geographical proximity with Nepali. This shared mountainous terrain has contributed to linguistic similarities, as the languages have evolved in response to similar environmental and cultural factors. - Hindi (80.1)
Hindi, one of India’s official languages, serves as a bridge between Nepali and other Indo-Aryan languages. While Hindi has evolved with significant Sanskrit influence, it retains core elements shared with Nepali. The widespread use of Hindi media has also exposed Nepali speakers to Hindi vocabulary and grammar.
(to be considered for the list, the language must be spoken by at least one million people)