Magahi language

The Magadhi language (also known as Magahi) is a language of India and Nepal. Magadhi is closely related to Bhojpuri and Maithili and these languages are sometimes referred to as a single language, Bihari. These languages, together with several other related languages, are known as the Bihari languages, which form a sub-group of the Eastern Zone group of Indo-Aryan languages.

Magadhi has as approximately 11 million speakers, most of whom live the southern districts of India's Bihar state, with some speakers in the Malda District of West Bengal. Magadhi is also a religious language; many of the texts of the Jain religion are written in Magadhi. An earlier form of Magadhi is believed to be the language spoken by the Buddha, and Magadhi may have been the language of ancient kingdom of Magadha.