Waddar language

{{Short description|Telugu dialect spoken in South Asia}}

{{distinguish}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2019}}

{{Infobox language

|name = Waddar

|ethnicity = Waddar

|states = India, Nepal

|region = Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra

|speakers = {{sigfig|198,000|2}}

|date = 2011 census

|ref = {{cite web | url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language-2011/Statement-1.pdf | title=Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011 | publisher=censusindia.gov.in | access-date=28 June 2019 }}

|familycolor = Dravidian

| fam2 = Southern

| fam3 = Southern II{{sfnp|Zvelebil|1990|p=57}}

| fam4 = Teluguic

|script = Telugu, Kannada, Devanagari

|iso3=wbq

|glotto=wadd1237

|glottorefname=Waddar

}}

Waddar, or Vadari, is a Dravidian language which belongs to the Telugu branch of its South-Central family, spoken among social caste of Waddars scattered over South India, and Sri Lanka especially in Karnataka, where it has a status of Scheduled caste. 200,000 people reported their languages as 'Vadari' in the 2011 census. Ethnologue treats it as separate Dravidian language closely related to Telugu, but without clear grounds. Waddars show their close relevance to Kaikadis.