Despite similarities between Hindi and Urdu and mutual intelligibility, at least on the spoken level, slight grammatical differences between the two languages do exist. The treatment of gender provides an example of such differences. Explanation of the actual differences in gender usage can be based on a synchronic, linguistic level as well as on a diachronic, cultural level. First-year students learning these languages, unless well-versed in linguistics or literature, probably do not need to receive such explanations for learning purposes. Such linguistic and cultural complexities are more easily understood by second-year students who have been exposed to other exceptions in Hindi and Urdu grammar and to Indian culture in general. (VM)