Magahi (𑂧𑂏𑂯𑂲), also known as Magadhi (𑂧𑂏𑂡𑂲), is a Indo-Aryan language spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal states of eastern India,[7][8] and in the Terai of Nepal.

These regions were part of the ancient kingdom of Magadha, the core of which was the area of Bihar south of the river Ganga.

However, linguists have concluded that Magahi along with Assamese, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Oriya originated from the Magadhi Prakrit during the 8th to 11th centuries.

Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Assamese, Oriya, Maithili and other modern languages took definite shape in their literary writings in the beginning of the 14th century.

There are many popular songs throughout the area in which the language is spoken, and strolling bards recite various long epic poems which are known more or less over the whole of Northern India.

In Magahi speaking area, folk singers sing a good number of ballads.

It is spoken in the area which formed the core of the ancient kingdom of Magadha - the modern districts of Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura and Nawada.

A blend of Magahi known as Khortha is spoken by non-tribal populace in North Chotanagpur division of Jharkhand which comprises districts of Bokaro, Chatra, Dhanbad, Giridih, Hazaribagh, Koderma and Ramgarh.