Apr 28, 2024, 02:44 PM IST

8 oldest Indian languages that are still spoken today

Pravrajya Suruchi

Tamil (5,000 years): Considered the oldest continuously spoken language in the world, Tamil boasts a rich literary heritage and is spoken by over 77 million people globally.

Sanskrit (7,000 years): Though not a widely spoken language today, Sanskrit holds immense cultural and historical significance in India.

Kannada (2,000 years): Dravidian language spoken by over 43 million people, primarily in the state of Karnataka.

Telugu (2,000 years): Another Dravidian language spoken by over 88 million people, primarily in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Malayalam (2,000 years): Dravidian language spoken by over 47 million people, primarily in the state of Kerala. 

Marathi (1,500-2,000 years): Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 83 million people, primarily in the state of Maharashtra.

Odia (2,000 years): Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 40 million people, primarily in the state of Odisha.

Bengali (1,500 years): Indo-Aryan language spoken by over 265 million people, primarily in the state of West Bengal and Bangladesh.