Prakrit is an ancient term that refers to various vernacular languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent. These languages were derived from Sanskrit and were prevalent from around the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE. Some synonyms for Prakrit include Ardhamagadhi, Gandhari, Jain Prakrit, Maharashtri, and Shauraseni. Ardhamagadhi was a language used in Buddhist literature, while Gandhari was spoken in the Gandhara region (present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan). Jain Prakrit was used by the Jain community, while Maharashtri was commonly spoken in the Maharashtra region. Shauraseni was spoken in the northern and western regions of India and eventually evolved into modern-day Hindi. These synonyms highlight the diverse linguistic history of the Indian subcontinent.