Lakh

A lakh (/ˈlæk/ or /ˈlɑːk/; abbreviated L) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; scientific notation: 10⁵). In the Indian convention of digit grouping, it is written as 1,00,000. For example, in India 150,000 rupees becomes 1.5 lakh rupees, written as ₹1,50,000 or INR 1,50,000.

It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is often used in Indian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan English. In Pakistan, the word lakh is used mostly in local languages rather than in English media.

Usage

In Indian English, the word is used both as an attributive and non-attributive noun, and with either a marked ("-s") or unmarked plural, as in: "1 lakh people" or "1 lakh of people"; "200 lakh rupees"; "5 lakh of rupees"; "rupees 10 lakhs"; or "5 lakhs of rupees". In the abbreviated form, usage such as "₹‍5L" (for "rupees 5 lakh") is common. In this system of numeration 100 lakh is called one crore and is equal to 10 million.