noun
rupee
roo-PEE
Rupee (noun) means the main unit of currency used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. Example: “The meal cost about two hundred rupees.”
noun
1
The main unit of currency used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
"There are no precise estimates available about the capital requirements of agricultural and rural development in India. But the amount required is in hundreds of thousands of crores of rupees."
— Katar Singh, Financing Rural Development (1999)
"Sadhana and Sanjeev Prasad, who live in Haridwar, a city in northern Uttarakhand state, filed a petition this month seeking 50 million Indian rupees (about $643,000) in damages from their son, 35, and his wife, 31."
— Esha Mitra and Jessie Yeung, Indian couple sue only son for not giving them grandchildren (2022)
"The meal cost about two hundred rupees."
"She exchanged her dollars for rupees at the airport kiosk."
How to use rupee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name of the currency used across several South Asian countries.
Common pairings
Indian rupee
Pakistani rupee
a hundred rupees
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Word forms
- Plural
- rupees
Fill the gap
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The meal cost about two hundred _____.
Etymology
Coined under Sher Shah Suri in the 1540s from Sanskrit रूप्य (rūpya), meaning "wrought silver" or "stamped coin."
Class of 1540
rupee joined the language around 1540.
See the full Class of 1540 →
Rhymes for rupee
See all rhymes for rupee →Frequently asked questions
What does “rupee” mean?
The word “rupee” means the main unit of currency used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. In plain terms, the name of the currency used across several South Asian countries.
How do you pronounce “rupee”?
“Rupee” is pronounced roo-PEE (/ɹuˈpi/ in IPA).
How do you use “rupee” in a sentence?
Here is “rupee” used in a sentence: “The meal cost about two hundred rupees.”
What part of speech is “rupee”?
“Rupee” is a noun.
Where does the word “rupee” come from?
The word “rupee” dates back to around 1540 and comes from Sanskrit. Coined under Sher Shah Suri in the 1540s from Sanskrit रूप्य (rūpya), meaning "wrought silver" or "stamped coin.".
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