Bhili (Bhili: भीली, ભીલી), IPA: [bʱiːliː], is a Western Indo-Aryan language spoken in west-central India, in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Other names for the language include Bhilboli and several Bhili varieties are called Garasia. Bhili is a member of the Bhil languages, which are related to Gujarati and Rajasthani. The language is written using the Devanagari script.

Bhili has no official status in India.

Phonology

Consonants

LabialDental/ AlveolarRetroflexPalatalVelarGlottal
Stopvoicelessptʈk
aspiratedʈʰ
voicedbdɖɡ
breathyɖʱɡʱ
Affricatevoiceless
voiced
Fricatives(ʃ)h
Nasalmnɳ(ŋ)
Laterallɭ
Trillr
Approximantwj
  • /w/ may also be heard as [ʋ] in free variation.
  • /ʃ/ occurs in loanwords from Persian and Hindi.
  • [ŋ] is heard as an allophone of /n/ preceding /k/.

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Highiu
Mid-higheəo
Mid-lowɛɔ
Low(æ)a
  • Vowels /i,u/ can also be heard as [ɪ,ʊ].
  • [æ] is borrowed from Hindi.
  • /ə/ may also be heard as [ɤ] in final position.

Further reading

  • Bodhankar, Anantrao. Bhillori (Bhilli) – English Dictionary. Pune: Tribal Research & Training Institute, 2002.[not Bhilori language?]
  • Jungblut, L. A Short Bhili Grammar of Jhabua State and Adjoining Territories. S.l: s.n, 1937.
  • Bhili - Folk SongThompson, Charles S. Rudiments of the Bhili Language. Ahmedabad [India]: United Printing Press, 1895.

See also