num

lakh

lahk

Lakh (num) means In South Asian English, the number one hundred thousand (100,000). Example: “The car costs five lakh rupees.”

num

In South Asian English, the number one hundred thousand (100,000).

"The car costs five lakh rupees."

"The festival drew a crowd of over a lakh people."

How to use lakh

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA South Asian counting unit meaning 100,000, used constantly in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi English.

UK vs US

Standard in Indian English but not used in British or American English, where "hundred thousand" is used instead.

Common pairings

one lakh rupees lakhs of people

Word forms

lakhs plural, lakh plural, lakhs plural, lakh plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The car costs five _____ rupees.

Etymology

From Hindi/Urdu लाख / لاکھ (lākh), from Sanskrit lakṣa.

Origin: Sanskrit

Frequently asked questions

What does “lakh” mean?

The word “lakh” means in South Asian English, the number one hundred thousand (100,000). In plain terms, a South Asian counting unit meaning 100,000, used constantly in Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi English.

How do you pronounce “lakh”?

“Lakh” is pronounced lahk (/lɑk/ in IPA).

How do you use “lakh” in a sentence?

Here is “lakh” used in a sentence: “The car costs five lakh rupees.”

What part of speech is “lakh”?

“Lakh” is a num.

Where does the word “lakh” come from?

The word “lakh” comes from Sanskrit. From Hindi/Urdu लाख / لاکھ (lākh), from Sanskrit lakṣa.

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Vocabulary lists that include lakh:

Words with Sanskrit origins