# lakh

/lˈæk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lakh
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. one hundred thousand

numeral · CEFR C1 · Dialect

the number 100,000. You will see this used in India, Pakistan, and nearby countries.

For teachers: a unit in the South Asian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000).

- The company announced that it had sold over a lakh of cars this year.
- The government reported that more than five lakh people had been affected by the seasonal flooding in the northern provinces.

Usage: In South Asian English, it is standard to place a comma after the '1' in 1,00,000 rather than using the international 100,000 format.

Teaching tip: This is essential vocabulary for anyone doing business or reading news in South Asia, but it is rarely used or understood by speakers outside that region.

### 2. currency amount

noun · CEFR C1 · Dialect

one hundred thousand rupees or other local currency.

For teachers: a sum of one hundred thousand units of currency, typically rupees.

- The repairs to the house are going to cost at least two lakhs.
- The prize money for the local cricket tournament was set at ten lakhs, attracting teams from across the state.

Usage: The plural form 'lakhs' is used when referring to multiple units of 100,000.

Teaching tip: Note that in South Asian English, large numbers are often described in lakhs and crores rather than millions.

### 3. a very large number

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Informal

a very large, unspecified number of things.

For teachers: used figuratively, often in the plural, to indicate an indefinitely large number.

- I have told you lakhs of times to keep your room clean.
- The poet described the night sky as being filled with lakhs of shimmering stars.

Usage: Usually appears in the plural form 'lakhs of' followed by a noun.

Teaching tip: This is a regional equivalent to the way 'millions' or 'thousands' is used for exaggeration in other English dialects.

## Examples

- The new car costs five lakh rupees.
- The charity raised over ten lakh for the new hospital wing during the weekend gala.
- In South Asian financial reporting, figures are often expressed in lakhs and crores rather than millions, which can be confusing for those accustomed to Western grouping conventions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.