Urdu language has evolved from several languages such as Turkish, Persian and Arabic, and dialects spoken in India. Urdu means the royal camp, in which many languages mingled. Also known as Rekhta meaning mixed. Urdu had acquired a variety of styles that include predominantly, the Dilli and the Lukhnavi styles along with the Deccani. Urdu related with Hindi much more intimately and even problematically. As professed by many scholars, Urdu and Hindi could really be seen as twin languages. They were both referred to as Hindavi or Hindui.
Devanagari script which has 12 svara (pure sounds, or vowels) and 34 vyanjana (ornamented sounds, consonants). An akshara is formed by the combination of zero or one vyanjana and one or more svar, and represents a phonetic unit of the shabda (word). The akshara is written by applying standard diacritical modifiers to the vyanjana corresponding to the svara. An akshara is usually more basic and predictable than the syllable in English. For example, the English 'cat' (considered to have just one syllable) is written as two aksharas, the 'k-a' and the 'ta'.
The svara and vyanjana are ordered and grouped logically for studying or reciting. Thus the pure sounds, 'a', 'i', 'u' and their lengthened versions ('aa', 'ii', 'uu') are followed by the combined ('ae', 'ai', 'o', 'ou'), nasal ('.m') and aspirated ('.h') forms. The vyanjana themselves are grouped into 6 groups (rows) of 5 (columns).
Devanagari is written from left to right. In Sanskrit, words were written together without spaces, so that the top bar is unbroken, although there were some exceptions to this rule. The break of the top line primarily marks breath groups. In modern languages, word breaks are used. Languages written with Devanagari require no case distinction.
Hindi and Urdu have a common form known as Hindustani, as the lingua franca of major areas of India long before its independence. Hindustani bears significant influence from Persian. Urdu written in Arabic script, in Nastaliq style, while Arabic is written in Nashk style, has a rich vocabulary influenced by Arabic. Words from Urdu علم (Ilm) - Knowledge کتاب (Kitaab) - Book سلام (Salaam) - Peace/Greetings خدا (Khuda) - God محبت (Mohabbat) - Love دوست (Dost) - Friend عمل (Amal) - Action/Deed حیات (Hayaat) - Life حکم (Hukm) - Command/Order عدل (Adl) - Justice Urdu words from Sanskrit Safed (White): Shweth Hafta (week): Saptah Baarish (rain): Varsha Bhai (brother): Bratha Suraj (sun): Surya Chand (moon): Chandrama Haath (hand): Hasth Kaam (work): karm Kutta (dog): Kukkur Kauwa(crow): kaaga jeeb (tongue): jeehvaa Raat (night): Raatri Din (day): Dinak Aik (one): aikam Do (two): Dwi Teen (3): Tre Char, 4: Chatur Paanch,5 : Pancham Chhe,6: Shash Saat,7: Sapta Aaath,8: Ashtam Nau,9: Navam Das,10: Dasham Gaay (cow): Gau Log (People): Lok'a Dood (milk): Dugdha Bahen (sister): Baghini Nayaa (new): Naveen Patta (leaf): Patra Kaan (ear): Karn Naakh (Nose): Naasika Baazu (arm): Bujha/Baahu Daud (run): Druta Kandha (Shoulder): Skhandha Gardhan (Neck): Kandhara Ungli (finger): Anguli Som (Monday): Somavar Mangal (Tuesday): Mangalvar Budh (Wednesday): Budhvar Khaana (to eat): Khaadati (Khaad) Tyarna (to swim): Tarati Peena (to drink): Pibati Panchi (bird): Pakshi