Fiji Hindi or
Fijian Hindi, known locally as "
Hindustani", is the language spoken by most
Fijian citizens of Indian descent, though a small number speak other languages at home. Despite its name, it is not derived from the
Hindustani language, but rather is a variety of
Awadhi that was influenced by
Bhojpuri and other
Bihari languages. It has also borrowed a large number of words from the non-
Indo-Aryan Fijian and English. A large number of words, unique to Fiji Hindi, have been created to cater for the new environment that Indo-Fijians now live in. First-generation Indians in Fiji, who used the language as a
lingua franca in Fiji, referred to it as
Fiji Baat, "Fiji talk".