دس لاکھ
das lakh/d̪əs lɑːkʰ/word by word
In Urdu, one million is expressed as دس لاکھ (das lakh).
The phrase is used to denote the number equal to one thousand thousands. While English speakers use the word 'million', Urdu speakers typically use the term 'lakh' (hundred thousand) to express this magnitude.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase دس لاکھ literally means 'ten lakhs'.
Which one should you use?
Aik Million is an alternative used in informal contexts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Punjab, particularly Lahore, the term Dus Lakh is sometimes used informally to express one million.
How do you pronounce it?
/d̪əs lɑːkʰ/
Did you know?
- While دس لاکھ is the standard term, the word لاکھ is often used metaphorically in poetry to describe an uncountable or infinite amount of something.
- The term لاکھ has its origins in the Sanskrit 'lakṣa', which historically refers to a 'mark' or 'target'.
- Because of the لاکھ system, an Urdu speaker might say 'ten lakh' instead of 'one million' even when speaking English in South Asia.
Examples in context
- اس گھر کی قیمت دس لاکھ ہے۔is ghar ki qemat das lakh hai.The price of this house is one million.
- اس منصوبے میں دس لاکھ روپے لگیں گے۔is mansoobay mein das lakh rupay lagein gay.This project will cost one million rupees.
- اس نے دس لاکھ روپے جمع کیے ہیں۔us ne das lakh rupay jama kiye hain.He has collected one million rupees.
Example conversation
Hamza and Sarah are discussing the budget for a new car.
- حمزہ Hamzaسارہ، کیا گاڑی کی قیمت دس لاکھ ہے؟Sarah, kya gaari ki qemat das lakh hai?Sarah, is the car's price one million?
- سارہ Saraجی حمزہ، یہ بالکل دس لاکھ کی ہے۔Ji Hamza, yeh bilkul das lakh ki hai.Yes Hamza, it is exactly one million.
- حمزہ Hamzaیہ تو میرے بجٹ سے زیادہ ہے۔yeh to meray budget se zyada hai.That is more than my budget.
- سارہ Saraفکر نہ کریں، ہم کوئی اور گاڑی دیکھیں گے۔fikr na karein, hum koi aur gaari dekhein gay.Don't worry, we will look for another car.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (دس, لاکھ) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries دس, لاکھ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
