Marathi language facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marathi |
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| मराठी Marāṭhī | ||||
Marathi written in Devanāgarī and Modi
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| Native to | India | |||
| Region | Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh parts of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu | |||
| Native speakers | 73 million (2007) | |||
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| Dialects |
Varhadi , Maalavi, Khaandeshi, Ahirani,
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| Writing system | Devanagari Modi (historical) |
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| Official status | ||||
| Official language in |  India: Maharashtra, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli |
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| Regulated by | Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad & various other institutions | |||
| Linguist List | omr Old Marathi | |||
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Marathi (मराठी भाषा) is a language spoken mainly in Maharashtra, India. It is the official language of Maharashtra. Marathi is very old, at least a thousand years old! It comes from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
People in Maharashtra and nearby areas speak Marathi. These areas include parts of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. It is also spoken in the union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Contents
What is the Marathi Language?
Marathi is one of the many languages spoken in India. It belongs to a large group of languages called the Indo-Aryan languages. This group includes languages like Hindi and Bengali.
How Old is Marathi?
Marathi has a long history, going back over 1,000 years. The earliest known writing in Marathi is from around 981 AD. This old writing was found on a statue in a place called Shravanabelagola.
How is Marathi Written?
Marathi is written using the Devanagari script. This is the same script used to write Hindi. Imagine learning one script and being able to read two languages!
Modi Script: An Old Way to Write Marathi
In the past, Marathi was also written using a different script called Modi. This script was faster to write. Today, Devanagari is the main script used. Some people are working to keep the Modi script alive as part of history.
Where is Marathi Spoken?
Most Marathi speakers live in the state of Maharashtra in India. Maharashtra is a large state with many cities, including Mumbai.
Marathi Speakers in India
Marathi is one of the most spoken languages in India. Millions of people use it every day. It is an important part of the culture in Maharashtra.
Images for kids
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981 A.D. Marathi inscription at the foot of Bahubali statue at Jain temple in Shravanabelagola is the earliest known Marathi inscription found. It was derived from Prakrit language.
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Marathi inscription inside Brihadisvara temple complex, Thanjavur
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Popular Marathi language newspapers at a newsstand in Mumbai, 2006
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Marathi language speakers in India (Census 2011)
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Map of Marathi language in India (district-wise). Darker shades imply a greater percentage of native speakers of Marathi in each district.
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Poster showcasing comparison of Marathi language speakers with Germany and Netherlands.
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Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha is the main regulator of Marathi
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Modi script was used to write Marathi
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An effort to conserve the "Modi Script" under India Post's My Stamp scheme. Here, the word 'Marathi' is printed in the "Modi Script".
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Marathi neon signboard at Maharashtra Police headquarters in Mumbai.
See also
In Spanish: Idioma marati para niños
