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Banks, courts and tax forms still ask for the amount in words as well as in figures, because words are harder to alter. A 1 can become a 7 with one stroke of a pen. “One thousand” cannot become “seven thousand” so easily. The rule is easy. The catch is that India and the rest of the world count in different groups.
Two ways of grouping the same number
Take the number 12345678. Indian grouping puts the first comma after three digits from the right and then every two digits. International grouping puts a comma every three.
| Number | Indian commas | International commas | In words (Indian) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1250 | 1,250 | 1,250 | one thousand two hundred fifty |
| 100000 | 1,00,000 | 100,000 | one lakh |
| 250000 | 2,50,000 | 250,000 | two lakh fifty thousand |
| 1234567 | 12,34,567 | 1,234,567 | twelve lakh thirty-four thousand five hundred sixty-seven |
| 12345678 | 1,23,45,678 | 12,345,678 | one crore twenty-three lakh forty-five thousand six hundred seventy-eight |
| 100000000 | 10,00,00,000 | 100,000,000 | ten crore |
The same last number in the international system reads: twelve million three hundred forty-five thousand six hundred seventy-eight.
To convert lakh to million, divide by 10. To convert crore to million, multiply by 10.
The ladder of names
- 10³ThousandSame in both systems: 1,000.
- 10⁵Lakh1,00,000. The international system says one hundred thousand.
- 10⁶Million10 lakh. 1,000,000.
- 10⁷Crore1,00,00,000. Ten million.
- 10⁹Billion / Arab100 crore. 1,000,000,000.
- 10¹¹Kharab100 arab. One hundred billion.
Arab and kharab are rarely used on paper. Most documents stop at crore.
How to build the words, step by step
- 1Split into groups12 lakh, 34 thousand, 567.
- 2Say each grouptwelve lakh, thirty-four thousand, five hundred sixty-seven.
- 3Hyphenate 21 to 99thirty-four, sixty-seven, but not “five hundred sixty seven” without the hyphen.
- 4Join and finishTwelve Lakh Thirty-Four Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-Seven.
Zero groups are skipped. 10,50,075 is ten lakh fifty thousand seventy-five, with no mention of the empty thousands place.
Writing a cheque correctly
- Start the words at the far left of the line so nothing can be added before them.
- Write the amount, then the word “only”: Rupees Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Only.
- For paise: Rupees Twelve Thousand Five Hundred and Fifty Paise Only.
- Draw a line through any blank space left on the words line.
- Make sure the figures box and the words say the same thing. When they differ, banks normally pay the amount in words, and many will return the cheque to be safe.
Is it “and” or no “and”?
British English often puts “and” after hundred: one hundred and five. American English usually leaves it out. Indian cheques and invoices mostly leave it out, apart from using “and” before paise. Either way is understood. Pick one style and use it throughout a document.
- One lakh five thousand seventy-five
- Same pattern on every line
- Short and unambiguous
- One lakh five thousand and seventy-five
- Uses “and” before the last part
- Fine, just be consistent
The bank does not mind which you choose as long as the value is the same.
Invoices and legal documents
- Put the total in words under the figure on every invoice. GST invoices often carry “Amount in words”.
- Use title case or capitals consistently: “Rupees Twenty-Five Thousand Only”.
- For foreign currency use the matching wording: “US Dollars One Thousand Two Hundred Only”.
- For agreements with large sums, write the figure and the words in the same clause so neither can be altered alone.
Need the grouping only? The Indian number formatter converts between 12,34,567 and 1,234,567 for a whole list at once. For unit mix-ups of other kinds, see the unit conversion guide.
See also: invoice format in India, lakh and crore number format, how to create a UPI QR code and test it safely.
Questions people ask
How do I write 1,00,000 in words?
One lakh. In the international system it is one hundred thousand.
How many zeros are in one crore?
Seven zeros: 1,00,00,000. One crore equals ten million.
How do I write an amount in words on a cheque?
Start at the left edge, write the full amount in words, add “only” at the end, and put “and … Paise” before it if there are paise. Strike through any empty space.
What is 1 million in lakh?
One million is 10 lakh. In digits it is 10,00,000 in the Indian system and 1,000,000 in the international system.
How many lakh make one billion?
One billion is 10,000 lakh, or 100 crore.
Do I need a hyphen between twenty and one?
Hyphens in numbers from 21 to 99 are standard in English: twenty-one, ninety-nine. They are not required for the words to be understood.
Is it correct to write “only” after the amount?
Yes. It closes the line so nothing can be added after it, and it is the usual form on cheques and invoices in India.