What does lakh mean?
A lakh is an Indian and South Asian unit for one hundred thousand. It is most commonly used when stating numbers, especially amounts of money: “The scheme received five lakh rupees” means that it received 500,000 rupees. The word also appears informally in expressions such as “lakhs of people,” where it means a very large number. Because the Indian numbering system groups digits differently from the international system, lakh-based figures can be unfamiliar to speakers of British and American English. Within South Asian English, however, it is a normal and useful part of everyday numerical and financial vocabulary. It often appears alongside crore, the next major grouping unit, equal to 10 million. Together, lakh and crore provide a distinctive way of expressing large quantities and monetary values.
nounA lakh is a unit of the Indian numbering system equal to 100,000. The term is used especially in India and is also understood in other South Asian contexts.
- The cardinal number 100,000, used in the Indian numbering system.
- A large monetary amount, especially when used with a currency such as rupees.
"The restoration project will cost approximately twenty lakh rupees."
"The charity hopes to provide books to two lakh children."
"She invested several lakhs in the new business."
Used for multiple units of 100,000, especially in monetary amounts and expressions such as “lakhs of people.”
"Thousands of residents welcomed the proposal, and similar responses were reported in several other cities."
In the Indian numbering system, a lakh is 100,000 and a crore is 10 million—two ways of counting that can make international figures surprisingly different.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lakh come from?
The English word comes from Hindi lākh, which derives from Sanskrit lakṣa. Sanskrit lakṣa was used for the number 100,000 as well as for related numerical and measuring concepts. The word entered English during the period of British rule in India and became established in Indian English.
How lakh is actually used
Lakh is chiefly used in South Asian English and is not part of standard British or American usage. It is often written in words, as in “two lakh,” and may refer to money without naming the currency.