How to Pronounce lakh

Meaning and Context

A lakh is a fundamental unit in the South Asian numbering system, representing the quantity of one hundred thousand (100,000). Its linguistic and cultural origin is traced to the Sanskrit word "laksha," which historically signified a target or a large number, and evolved to specifically denote this numerical value. This term is deeply embedded in the daily financial, demographic, and commercial discourse of countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, providing a convenient shorthand for expressing large figures. When discussing population statistics, real estate prices, corporate salaries, or cricket player auctions, values are routinely communicated in lakhs, often paired with the term "crore" (ten million) for larger sums. For instance, an annual income of ₹15 lakh is instantly recognizable as 1.5 million rupees. Its usage is so prevalent that it is officially recognized in Indian English and appears in government documents and financial reports, making understanding terms like lakh to million conversion, lakh rupees, and salary in lakhs essential for engaging with the region's economic context.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The standard and correct spelling in English is "lakh." The most common variant is "lac," which is an accepted alternative spelling frequently seen in financial contexts in India, such on as bank checks or informal commercial writing. However, "lakh" is considered the more formal and widely used transliteration. A frequent typo or error involves adding an "s" to create the non-standard plural form "lakhs"; the correct plural is simply "lakh" (e.g., "ten lakh rupees"). Another common mistake, especially for those unfamiliar with the term, is to confuse it with "lack," meaning an absence of something, which can lead to significant misunderstandings in written communication. When writing numerically, it is often abbreviated as "L" or "Lac" (e.g., ₹25L or ₹25 Lac), a convention commonly used in online classifieds for property and vehicles.

Example Sentences

The startup secured initial funding of fifty lakh rupees to develop its prototype.

After years of saving, they finally bought an apartment in the suburbs for nearly eighty-five lakh.

The district's new literacy initiative aims to reach over two lakh residents in its first phase.

It's common for engineering graduates from top institutes to receive job offers with starting packages exceeding twenty lakh per annum.

He miscalculated the export order, confusing ten lakh units with one million, leading to a slight discrepancy in the invoice.

The charitable trust announced it had distributed blankets to one lakh families affected by the floods.

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