Are you trying to find out how to learn to speak Hindi? You have a lot of company. Enrollments in Hindi courses in US universities is increasing every year. With India continuing to grow as a global finance and cultural powerhouse, the interest in learning to speak the Hindi language will only increase in the future. And as foreign as Hindi might at first sound to English-speaking ears or look to American eyes, Hindi is easy to learn and logical to read, write and pronounce.

India has two official languages : Hindi and Urdu. The most widely spoken of these is Hindi.

Not everyone in India speaks the Hindi language, but it is the language spoken or understood by the largest percentage of India's population. As with so many things India, the analogy of India to all of Europe comes in handy. Consider how you may be able to get around many places in Europe — especially the popular tourist haunts — with basic English. It is quite probable that you'll come to a region within a country where the English language and English speakers are very few and far-between. You could still say that English is the language that a larger percentage of Europe's population understands than any other. The situation is similar to what one would realize in India with Hindi.

Just to clarify, there is a difference between Hindi and Hindu. You can learn to speak Hindi. However, The word Hindu refers to a person who is a follower of India's largest religion, Hinduism. A similar word, Hindoo, is now obsolete and is often considered derogatory. Although India has the world's largest percentage of Hindus, they also live in other countries where there is a significant Indian settlement, such as the United Kingdom, USA, and Canada. Hindus don't have to be Indian by ethnicity; indeed there are many white-skinned followers of Hinduism in the U.S..

If you really want to know about Indian culture, you must know Hindi. Hindi is the core of India and Indian culture but even so, if you really want to know Indian culture, you must visit India.

You will have a better trip filled with meaning if you learn to speak Hindi before going! If you refuse to learn to speak Hindi , even on a basic level, you will only do yourself a disservice when you are visiting the country. Knowing common phrases and words you will find it easier to hail a taxi, order at restaurants, and simply travel easier throughout the country.

There are several ways to learn to speak Hindi. Your choice really depends on how fast you need to learn Hindi, and how fluent you need to become. There are many easy-to-follow web-based programs such as Rocket Hindi and Rosetta Stone. On those online courses you will learn conversational Hindi, and you can learn it pretty fast if you apply yourself. Some of these options will make it possible for you to learn to speak Hindi online. If you have more time available, such as three months or more, you might consider taking a class at a local university. Furthermore, if you know an Indian who speaks Hindi, you will find it easier to speak the language because you can converse with someone else who help you learn it better!

So, go ahead and broaden your view of the world. Learn to speak Hindi and take a trip to India to fully appreciate the country!