Kalmar "Hindoostani" babban rubutun "Hindustani" ne, wanda ke nufin harshen da ake magana a wasu sassan Indiya, Pakistan, da wasu kasashen kudancin Asiya. Kalmar "Hindustan" ta samo asali ne daga kalmar Farisa "Hindustan," wanda ke nufin "ƙasar Hindu."Yaren Hindustani hade ne na Hindi da Urdu, kuma ana magana da shi a cikin yankunan arewaci da tsakiyar Indiya, da kuma wasu yankunan Pakistan. Har ila yau shi ne yaren hukuma na Indiya kuma ɗaya daga cikin harsuna 22 da tsarin mulkin Indiya ya amince da shi.A da, ana amfani da kalmar "Hindoostani" don nufin mutane ko abubuwan da suka shafi Hindustan ( yankin Indiya) a lokacin mulkin mallaka na Burtaniya.