sindhi: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, ethnographic
Quick answer
What does “sindhi” mean?
An Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan and parts of India, or a member of the ethnic group native to the Sindh region.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan and parts of India, or a member of the ethnic group native to the Sindh region.
Pertaining to the Sindhi people, their language, culture, or the Sindh region. Can also refer to the script used to write the Sindhi language.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. British English may have slightly more historical colonial context. American English usage is almost exclusively in academic or diaspora contexts.
Connotations
Neutral and descriptive. In British historical context, may relate to colonial administration of Sindh.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse. Higher frequency in linguistic, anthropological, South Asian studies, and diaspora communities.
Grammar
How to Use “sindhi” in a Sentence
[be] + Sindhi[speak] + Sindhi[translate] + into Sindhi[of] + Sindhi originVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sindhi” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- Sindhi is written in a modified Arabic script.
- The Sindhis have a rich musical tradition.
American English
- Sindhi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family.
- Many Sindhis migrated after the partition.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in context of translation services, media targeting the Sindhi diaspora.
Academic
Common in linguistics, South Asian studies, anthropology, post-colonial studies.
Everyday
Rare, except among members of the Sindhi community or those with specific regional interest.
Technical
Used in linguistics (language classification, scripts), ethnography, cultural studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sindhi”
- Incorrect: 'She speaks Sindhi language.' (Redundant) Correct: 'She speaks Sindhi.'
- Incorrect: 'A Sindhi' (as a countable noun for the language) Correct: 'Sindhi' is uncountable when referring to the language. 'He is learning Sindhi.'
- Misspelling: 'Sindi', 'Syndhi', 'Sindhee'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Sindhi is a distinct Indo-Aryan language, while Hindi and Urdu are closely related but separate standards. They share some vocabulary but have different scripts, grammar, and historical influences.
Primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is also spoken by the Sindhi diaspora in India (especially Gujarat, Rajasthan, Mumbai) and globally in communities in the UK, USA, and UAE.
In Pakistan, it is written in a Perso-Arabic script (often called 'Sindhi-Arabic'). In India, the Devanagari script is also officially used. Historically, various scripts like Khudabadi were employed.
Yes. 'A Sindhi' refers to a person from the Sindhi ethnic group. 'Sindhis' is the plural. When referring to the language, it is uncountable (e.g., 'I study Sindhi').
An Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in the Sindh province of Pakistan and parts of India, or a member of the ethnic group native to the Sindh region.
Sindhi is usually formal, academic, ethnographic in register.
Sindhi: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪndi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪndi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SINDHI: Spoken IN the Sindh region. Link the 'dh' in Sindh to the 'd' and 'h' being silent in the English pronunciation.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A PEOPLE / CULTURE IS A PLACE (The language embodies the identity and heritage of the Sindhi people from Sindh).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary script used to write modern Sindhi in Pakistan?