Telugu pronunciation: [ˈteluɡu]) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states ofAndhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It stands alongside Hindi and Bengali as one of the few languages with primary official language status in more than one Indian state.[6][7] Telugu is also an official language in West Bengal, Yanam district of Puducherry and a linguistic minority in the states of Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab,Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is one of six languages designated a classical language of India by the country's government.[8][9]

Telugu ranks fourth among the languages with the highest number of native speakers in India, with nearly 82 million speakers as per the 2011 census,[10]and 15th in the Ethnologue list of languages by number of native speakers.[11][12] It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language family[13] and one of the twenty-two scheduled languages of the Republic of India.[14] It is also the fastest-growing language in the United States, where there is a large Telugu-speaking community.[15] Roughly 10,000 pre-colonial inscriptions exist in the Telugu language.[16]

Telugu pronunciation: [ˈteluɡu]) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states ofAndhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It stands alongside Hindi and Bengali as one of the few languages with primary official language status in more than one Indian state.[6][7] Telugu is also an official language in West Bengal, Yanam district of Puducherry and a linguistic minority in the states of Odisha, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab,Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is one of six languages designated a classical language of India by the country's government.[8][9]

Telugu ranks fourth among the languages with the highest number of native speakers in India, with nearly 82 million speakers as per the 2011 census,[10]and 15th in the Ethnologue list of languages by number of native speakers.[11][12] It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language family[13] and one of the twenty-two scheduled languages of the Republic of India.[14] It is also the fastest-growing language in the United States, where there is a large Telugu-speaking community.[15] Roughly 10,000 pre-colonial inscriptions exist in the Telugu language.[16]