Indian numbering system
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
The Indian numbering system is commonly used in Indian English and across the Indian subcontinent to represent large numbers. Key terms include "lakh," which stands for one hundred thousand, and "crore," which means ten million, and these are written as 1,00,000 for a lakh and 1,00,00,000 for a crore.[1] For instance, 150,000 rupees is expressed as "1.5 lakh rupees" or written as "150,000 rupees." Similarly, 30,000,000 rupees is referred to as "3 crore rupees" and can be written as "3,00,00,000 rupees".
There are specific terms for numbers larger than a crore. These terms include "arab,"[lower-alpha 1] which represents 100 crores or 1 billion; "kharab,"[lower-alpha 2] meaning 100 arab or 100 billion; "nil" (sometimes written as "neel"),[lower-alpha 3] equivalent to 100 kharab or 10 trillion; "padma,"[lower-alpha 4] which stands for 100 nil or 1 quadrillion; "shankh,"[lower-alpha 5] representing 100 padma or 100 quadrillion; and "mahashankh,"[lower-alpha 6] which equals 100 shankh or 10 quintillion. In everyday language, the terms lakh and crore are often repeated for larger figures, so "lakh crore" refers to 1 trillion.
SystemEdit
The Indian numbering system corresponds to the Western system for the zeroth through fourth powers of ten: one (100), ten (101), one hundred (102), one thousand (103), ten thousand (104). For higher powers of ten, the names no longer correspond. In the Indian system, the next powers of ten are called one lakh, ten lakh, one crore, ten crore, one arab (or one hundred crore), and so on; there are new words for every second power of ten (105 + 2n): lakh (105), crore (107), arab (109), etc. In the Western system, the next powers of ten are called one hundred thousand, one million, ten million, one hundred million, one billion (short scale)/one thousand million (long scale), and so on; in the short scale, there are new words for every third power of ten (103n): million (106), billion (109), trillion (1012), etc.
Written numbers differ in the placement of commas, grouping digits into powers of one hundred (102) in the Indian system (except for the first thousand), and into powers of one thousand (103) in the Western system. The Indian and most English systems both use the decimal point and the comma digit-separator, while some other languages and countries using the Western numbering system use the decimal comma and the thin space or point to group digits.[2]
There are terms for numbers larger than 1 crore as well, but these are not commonly used and are unfamiliar to most.[citation needed] These include 1 arab (equal to 100 crore or 1 billion (short scale)), 1 kharab (equal to 100 arab or 100 billion (short scale)), 1 nil (sometimes incorrectly transliterated as neel; equal to 100 kharab or 10 trillion), 1 padma (equal to 100 nil or 1 quadrillion), 1 shankh (equal to 100 padma or 100 quadrillion), and 1 mahashankh (equal to 100 shankh or 10 quintillion). In common parlance, the thousand, lakh, and crore terminology (though inconsistent) repeats for larger numbers: thus 1,000,000,000,000 (one trillion) becomes 1 lakh crore, written as 10,00,00,00,00,000.
ExamplesEdit
150,000 rupees in India is referred to as "1.5 lakh rupees", which is written as 1,50,000 rupees; 30,000,000 (thirty million) rupees is referred to as "3 crore rupees", which is written as 3,00,00,000 rupees with commas at the thousand, lakh, and crore places.
Use of separatorsEdit
The Indian numbering system uses separators differently from the international norm. Instead of grouping digits by threes as in the international system, the Indian numbering system groups the rightmost three digits together (until the hundreds place), and thereafter groups by sets of two digits.[3] One trillion would thus be written as 10,00,00,00,00,000 or 10 kharab (or one lakh crore). This makes the number convenient to read using the system's terminology. For example:
| Indian system | Indian system (words) | International system | International system (words) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,00,000 | Five lakh |
500,000 | Five hundred thousand |
| 12,34,56,789 | Twelve crore thirty-four lakh fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine | 123,456,789 | One hundred and twenty-three million four hundred and fifty-six thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine |
| 17,00,00,00,000 | Seventeen arab | 17,000,000,000 | Seventeen billion (short scale) |
| 6,78,90,00,00,00,00,000 | Six padma seventy-eight nil ninety kharab | 6,789,000,000,000,000 | Six quadrillion seven hundred and eighty nine trillion |
This accords with the Indian numbering system, which has units for thousands, hundreds of thousands, tens of millions, etc.
Names of numbersEdit
The table below includes the spelling and pronunciation of numbers in various Indian languages along with corresponding short scale names.
| Value | Short scale | Indian English | Hindi / Urdu | Marathi | Bengali | Odia | Nepali | Tamil | Telugu | Kannada | Malayalam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | one | एक / ایک (ēk) |
एक (ēk) |
এক (êk) |
ଏକ (ekå) |
एक (ēk) |
ஒன்று (oṉṟu) |
ఒకటి (okaṭi) |
ಒಂದು (ಬಿಡಿ) (ondu) |
ഒന്ന് (onn) |
| 10 | ten | ten | दस / دس (das) |
दहा (dahā) |
দশ (dôś) |
ଦଶ (dåśå) |
दश (daś) |
பத்து (pattu) |
పది (padi) |
ಹತ್ತು (hattu) |
പത്ത് (patt) |
| 102 | hundred | hundred | सौ / سو (sau) |
शंभर (śambhar) |
শত (śato) |
ଶହେ (śåhe) |
सय (saya) |
நூறு (nūṟu) |
వంద/నూరు (vanda/nūru) |
ನೂರು (nūru) |
നൂറ് (nuṟ) |
| 103 | thousand | thousand | हज़ार / ہزار (hazār) |
एक हजार (ēk hajār) |
হাজার (hāzār) |
ହଜାର (håjārå) ସହସ୍ର (såhåsrå) |
एक हजार (ēk hajār) |
ஆயிரம் (āyiram) |
వెయ్యి (veyyi) |
ಸಾವಿರ (sāvira) |
ആയിരം (āyiraṁ) |
| 104 | ten thousand | ten thousand | दस हज़ार / دس ہزار (das hazār) |
दहा हजार (dahā hajār) |
অযুত (ōjut) দশ হাজার (dôś hāzār) |
ଦଶ ହଜାର (dåśå håjārå) ଅୟୁତ (åyutå) |
दश हजार (daś hajār) |
பத்தாயிரம் (pattāyiram) ஆயுதம் (āyutam) |
పది వేలు (padi vēlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ (ಅಯುತ) (hattu sāvira) |
പതിനായിരം (patināyiraṁ) |
| 105 | hundred thousand | lakh | लाख / لاکھ (lākh) |
एक लाख (ēk lākh) |
লক্ষ (lôkkhō) লাখ (lākh) |
ଲକ୍ଷ (låkṣå) |
एक लाख (ēk lākh) |
இலட்சம் (ilaṭcam) நியுதம் (niyutam) |
లక్ష (lakṣa) |
ಲಕ್ಷ (lakṣa) |
ലക്ഷം (lakṣaṁ) |
| 106 | million | ten lakh | दस लाख / دس لاکھ (das lākh) |
दहा लाख (dahā lākh) |
নিযুত (nijut) দশ লাখ (dôś lākh) |
ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ (dåśå låkṣå) ନିୟୁତ (niyutå) |
दश लाख (daś lākh) |
பத்து இலட்சம் (pattu ilaṭcam) |
పది లక్షలు (padi lakṣalu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ (ನಿಯುತ) (hattu lakṣa) |
പത്തുലക്ഷം (pattulakṣaṁ) |
| 107 | ten million | crore | करोड़ / کروڑ (karōṛ) |
एक कोटी (ēk kōṭī) |
কোটি (kōṭi) |
କୋଟି (koṭi) |
एक करोड (ēk karoḍ) |
கோடி (kōṭi) |
కోటి (kōṭi) |
ಕೋಟಿ (kōṭi) |
കോടി (kōṭi) |
| 108 | hundred million | ten crore | दस करोड़ / دس کروڑ (das karōṛ) |
दहा कोटी (dahā kōṭī) |
অর্বুদ (ōrbud) দশ কোটি (dôś kōṭi) |
ଦଶ କୋଟି (dåśå koṭi) ଅର୍ବୁଦ (årbudå) |
दश करोड (daś karoḍ) |
அற்புதம் (aṟputam) |
పది కోట్లు (padi kōṭlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ (ಅರ್ಭುಧ) (hattu kōṭi) |
പത്തുകോടി (pattukōṭi) |
| 109 | billion | arab / hundred crore | अरब / ارب (arab) सौ करोड़ / سو کروڑ (sau karōṛ) |
एक अब्ज (ēk abja) |
মহার্বুদ (môhārbud) একশ কোটি (êkśō kōṭi) |
ଶହେ କୋଟି (śåhe koṭi) ବୃନ୍ଦ (brundå) |
एक अर्ब (ēk arba) |
நிகற்புதம் (nikaṟputam) |
వంద కోట్లు (vanda kōṭlu) |
ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ (ಅಭ್ಜ) (nūru kōṭi) |
നൂറുകോടി (nūṟukōṭi) |
| 1010 | ten billion | ten arab / thousand crore | दस अरब / دس ارب (das arab) एक हज़ार करोड़ / ایک ہزار کروڑ (ēk hazār karōṛ) |
एक खर्व (ek kharva) |
খর্ব (khôrbō) হাজার কোটি (hāzār kōṭi) |
ହଜାର କୋଟି (håjārå koṭi) ଖର୍ବ (khårbå) |
दश अर्ब (daś arba) |
கும்பம் (kumpam) |
వెయ్యి కోట్లు (veyyi kōṭlu) |
ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ (ಕರ್ವ) (ondu sāvira kōṭi) |
ആയിരം കോടി (āyiraṁ kōṭi) |
| 1011 | hundred billion | kharab / hundred arab / ten thousand crore | खरब / کھرب (kharab) |
एक निखर्व (ek nikharva) |
মহাখর্ব (môhākhôrbō) দশ হাজার কোটি (dôś hājār kōṭi) |
ଦଶ ହଜାର କୋଟି (dåśå håjārå koṭi) ନିଖର୍ବ (nikhårbå) |
एक खर्ब (ēk kharba) |
கணம் (kaṇam) |
పది వేల కోట్లు (padi vēla kōṭlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ (ನಿಕರ್ವ) (hattu sāvira kōṭi) |
പതിനായിരം കോടി (patināyiraṁ kōṭi) |
| 1012 | trillion | ten kharab / one thousand arab / one lakh crore | दस खरब / دس کھرب (das kharab) एक लाख करोड़ / ایک لاکھ کروڑ (ēk lākh karōṛ) |
एक पद्म (ēk padma) |
শঙ্খ (śôṅkhō) লাখ কোটি (lākh kōṭi) |
ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (låkṣå koṭi) ଶଙ୍ଖ (śåṅkhå) |
दश खर्ब (daś kharba) |
கற்பம் (kaṟpam) |
లక్ష కోట్లు (lakṣa kōṭlu) |
ಒಂದು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ (ಮಹಾಪದ್ಮ) (ondu lakṣa kōṭi) |
ഒരു ലക്ഷം കോടി (oru lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1013 | ten trillion | nil / hundred kharab / ten thousand arab / ten lakh crore | नील / نیل (nīl) |
एक महापद्म (ek mahāpadma) |
মহাশঙ্খ (môhāśôṅkhō) দশ লাখ কোটি (dôś lākh kōṭi) |
ଦଶ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (dåśå låkṣå koṭi) ପଦ୍ମ (pådmå) |
नील (nīl) |
நிகற்பம் (nikaṟpam) |
పది లక్షల కోట్లు (padi lakṣala kōṭlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಲಕ್ಷ ಕೋಟಿ (ಶಂಖು) (hattu lakṣa kōṭi) |
പത്തുലക്ഷം കോടി (pattulakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1014 | hundred trillion | ten nil / crore crore | दस नील / دس نیل (das nīl) एक करोड़ करोड़ / ایک کروڑ کروڑ (ēk karōṛ karōṛ) |
एक शंखू (ēk śaṅkhū) |
পদ্ম (pôddō) একশ লাখ কোটি (êkśō lākh kōṭi) শতলক্ষ কোটি (śôtôkōṭi lôkkō)f |
ଶହେ ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (śåhe låkṣå koṭi) ସାଗର (sāgårå) |
दश नील (daś nīl) |
பதுமம் (patumam) |
కోటి కోట్లు (kōṭi kōṭlu) |
ಒಂದು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಜಲಧಿ) (ondu kōṭi kōṭi) |
നൂറ് ലക്ഷം കോടി (nuṟ lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1015 | quadrillion | padma / hundred nil / ten crore crore | पद्म / پدم (padma) |
एक जलधि शंखू (eka jaladhi śaṅkhū) |
মহাপদ্ম (môhāpôddō) হাজার লাখ কোটি (hāzār lākh kōṭi) |
ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (håjārå låkṣå koṭi) ଅନ୍ତ୍ୟ (åntyå) |
पद्म (padma) |
சங்கம் (caṅkam) |
పది కోట్ల కోట్లు (padi kōṭla kōṭlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಅಂತ್ಯ) (hattu kōṭi kōṭi) |
ആയിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി (āyiraṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1016 | ten quadrillion | ten padma / hundred crore crore | दस पद्म / دس پدم (das padma) |
एक अंत्य (eka antya) |
বঙ্গ
(bongo)দশ হাজার লাখ কোটি |
ଦଶ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (dåśå håjārå låkṣå koṭi) ମଧ୍ୟ (mådhyå) |
दश पद्म (daś padma) |
வெள்ளம் (veḷḷam) சமுத்திரம் (camuttiram) |
వంద కోట్ల కోట్లు (vanda kōṭla kōṭlu) |
ನೂರು ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಮಧ್ಯ) (nūru kōṭi kōṭi) |
പതിനായിരം ലക്ഷം കോടി (patināyiraṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1017 | hundred quadrillion | shankh / hundred padma / thousand crore crore / lakh lakh crore | शंख / شنکھ (śaṅkh) |
एक परार्ध (eka parārdha) |
মহাবঙ্গ
(mohabongo)শত হাজার লাখ কোটি |
ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (śåhe håjārå låkṣå koṭi) ପରାର୍ଦ୍ଧ (pårārddhå) |
शंख (śaṅkha) |
அந்நியம் (anniyam) |
వెయ్యి కోట్ల కోట్లు (veyyi kōṭla kōṭlu) |
ಒಂದು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (ಪರಾರ್ಧ) (ondu sāvira kōṭi kōṭi) |
ലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി (lakṣaṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
| 1018 | quintillion | ten shankh / ten thousand crore crore | दस शंख / دس شنکھ (das śaṅkh) गुलशन / گلشن (gulśan) |
एक महापरार्ध (eka mahāparārdha) |
গুলশান (gulśān) দশ শত হাজার লাখ কোটি (doś śoto hāzār lākh kōṭi) |
ଦଶ ଶହେ ହଜାର ଲକ୍ଷ କୋଟି (dåśå śåhe håjārå låkṣå koṭi) ଦଶ ପରାର୍ଦ୍ଧ (dåśå pårārddhå) |
दश शंख (daś śaṅkha) |
அர்த்தம் (arttam) |
పది వేల కోట్ల కోట్లు (padi vēla kōṭla kōṭlu) |
ಹತ್ತು ಸಾವಿರ ಕೋಟಿ ಕೋಟಿ (hattu sāvira kōṭi kōṭi) |
പത്തുലക്ഷം ലക്ഷം കോടി (pattulakṣaṁ lakṣaṁ kōṭi) |
Vedic numbering systemsEdit
There are various systems of numeration found in various ancient Vedic literary works of India. The following table gives one such system used in the Valmiki Ramayana.[4]
| Indian notation | Power notation | Equivalent numeric representation | Indian system | Short scale Western | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| एक (ēka) | 1 | 100 | 1 | One | One |
| दश (daśa) | 10 | 101 | 10 | Ten | Ten |
| शत (śata) | 100 | 102 | 100 | One hundred | One hundred |
| सहस्र (sahasra) | 1,000 | 103 | 1,000 | One thousand | One thousand |
| अयुत (ayuta) | 10,000 | 104 | 10,000 | Ten thousand | Ten thousand |
| लक्ष (lakṣa) | 1,00,000 | 105 | 100,000 | One lakh | One hundred thousand |
| नियुत (niyuta) | 1,00,000 daśa | 106 | 1,000,000 | Ten lakh | One million |
| कोटि (kōṭi) |
1,00,000 śata | 107 | 10,000,000 | One crore | Ten million |
| शङ्कु (śaṅku) | 1,00,000 koṭi | 1012 | 1,000,000,000,000 | One Shankh Or Ten kharab Or One lakh crore | One trillion |
| महाशङ्कु (mahāśaṅku) | 1,00,000 śaṅku | 1017 | 100,000,000,000,000,000 | One shankh | One hundred quadrillion |
| कणिका (Kanika) | 1,00,000 mahāśaṅku | 1022 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Mahashankh | Ten sextillion (ten trilliard) |
| महाकणिका (mahākanika) | 1,00,000 kanika | 1027 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Vrinda | One octillion |
| पद्म (padma) | 1,00,000 mahāvr̥nda | 1032 | 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Padma | One hundred nonillion |
| महापद्म (mahāpadma) | 1,00,000 padma | 1037 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Mahapadma | Ten undecillion |
| खंडवा (khandwa) | 1,00,000 mahāpadma | 1042 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Khandwa | One tredecillion |
| महाखंडवा (mahākhandwa) | 1,00,000 khandwa | 1047 | 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Mahakhandwa | One hundred quattuordecillion |
| समुद्र (samudra) | 1,00,000 mahākhandwa | 1052 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Samudra | Ten sexdecillion |
| नेहा (ōgha) | 1,00,000 samudra | 1057 | 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Aasman | One octodecillion |
| महासमान (mahaasmaan) | 1,00,000 aasman | 1062 | 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Mahaasman | One hundred novemdecillion |
| विक्रांत (vikrant) | 1,00,000 mahaneha | 1067 | 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 | Vikranta | Ten unvigintillion |
| महाविक्रांत (mahāvikrant) | 1,00,000 vikranta | 1072 | 10
,00,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Mahavikranta | One trevigintillion |
Usage in different languagesEdit
- In Assamese, a lakh is also called লক্ষ lokhyo, or লাখ lakh and a crore is called কৌটি বা কোটি kouti
- In Bengali, a lakh is natively (tadbhava) known as লাখ lākh, though some use the ardha-tatsama লক্ষ lokkho. A crore is called কোটি kōṭi
- In Burmese, crore is called ကုဋေ [ɡədè]. Lakh is used in Burmese English.
- In Dhivehi, a lakh is called ލައްކަ la'kha and a crore is called ކްރޯރް kroaru
- In Gujarati, a lakh is called લાખ lākh and a crore is called કરોડ karoḍ. A hundred crore is called અબજ abaj
- In Kannada, a lakh is called ಲಕ್ಷ lakṣha and a crore is called ಕೋಟಿ kōṭi
- In Khasi, a lakh is called lak and a crore is called klur or krur. A billion is called arab and hundred billion is called kharab.
- In Malayalam, a lakh is called ലക്ഷം laksham and a crore is called കോടി kodi.
- In Marathi, a lakh is called लाख/लक्ष lākh and a crore is called कोटी koṭi or करोड karoḍ, and an arab (109) is called अब्ज abja.
- In Nepali, a lakh is called लाख lākh and a crore is called करोड karoḍ.
- In Odia, a lakh is called ଲକ୍ଷ lakhya and a crore is called କୋଟି koṭi.
- In Punjabi, a lakh is called lakkh (Shahmukhi: لکھ, Gurmukhi: ਲੱਖ) and a crore is called karoṛ (Shahmukhi: کروڑ, Gurmukhi: ਕਰੋੜ).
- In Rohingya, a lakh is called lák and a crore is called kurul. A thousand crore is called kuthí.
- In Sinhala, a lakh is called ලක්ෂ lakṣa and a crore is called කෝටි kōṭi.
- In Tamil, a lakh is called இலட்சம் ilaṭcam and a crore is called கோடி kōṭi.
- In Telugu, a lakh is called లక్ష lakṣha and a crore is called కోటి kōṭi.
- In Urdu, a lakh is called لاکھ lākh and a crore is called کروڑ karoṛ. A billion is called arab (ارب), and one hundred billion/arab is called a kharab (کھرب).
- Lakh has entered the Swahili language as "laki" and is in common use.
Formal written publications in English in India tend to use lakh/crore for Indian currency and International numbering for foreign currencies.[5]
Current usageEdit
The usage of this system is limited to the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. It is universally employed within these countries, and is preferred to the English numbering system.[6]
Sri Lanka used this system in the past but has switched to the English numbering system in recent years.
In the Maldives, the term lakh is widely used in official documents and local speech. However the English numbering system is preferred for higher denominations (i.e millions etc).
Most institutions and citizens in India use the Indian number system, although the Reserve Bank of India has been noted as a rare exception.[7]
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ "Knowing our Numbers". Department Of School Education And Literacy. National Repository of Open Educational Resources. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
- ↑ "Decimal and Thousands Separators (International Language Environments Guide)". docs.oracle.com. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ↑ Emmons, John (25 March 2018). "UNICODE LOCALE DATA MARKUP LANGUAGE (LDML) PART 3: NUMBERS". Unicode.org. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ↑ "Valmiki Ramayana - Yuddha Kanda". www.valmikiramayan.net.
- ↑ Shapiro, Richard (16 August 2012). "The most distinctive counting system in English? Indian cardinal numbers". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 24 May 2020. - Shapiro is/was an OED employee. The article states: "The opinions and other information contained in the OED blog posts and comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press."
- ↑ Krulwich, Robert; Block, Ezra (21 October 2010). "Hey! Who Can Explain What India Does With Its Commas?". NPR. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ↑ Gurpur (10 August 2015). "Can we follow Indian numbering system for simplicity and good order?". Moneylife News & Views. Retrieved 3 September 2020.