crore: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Technical (finance, economics, demographics); Regional (South Asian English)
Quick answer
What does “crore” mean?
A unit in the Indian numbering system equal to ten million (10,000,000).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit in the Indian numbering system equal to ten million (10,000,000).
The word is used primarily in South Asian contexts (especially India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka) to denote a large quantity, typically of money or population. It is a fundamental counting unit in the region's financial, demographic, and statistical reporting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In both British and American English, the word is used almost exclusively in reference to South Asian contexts. No significant dialectal difference exists, as it is a culture-specific term. Americans are generally less familiar with it than Britons due to historical colonial ties.
Connotations
Carries connotations of the South Asian economic sphere, large-scale finance, and demographic scale. Neutral in tone when used appropriately.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general international English, but high frequency in South Asian English media and business.
Grammar
How to Use “crore” in a Sentence
NUMERAL + crore + (of + NOUN)a + crore + (rupees)worth + NUMERAL + croreVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crore” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verb form exists.
American English
- No standard verb form exists.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form exists.
American English
- No standard adverb form exists.
adjective
British English
- The crore-rupee question remained unanswered.
- He entered the crore-patron club.
American English
- The crore-dollar deal was finalized.
- A crore-unit sales target was set.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in financial reports, market analyses, and business news from South Asia (e.g., 'The deal was valued at ₹150 crore.').
Academic
Found in economic, demographic, or sociological studies focusing on South Asia.
Everyday
Common in everyday speech in South Asia for discussing property prices, incomes, or large purchases. Rare in everyday English elsewhere.
Technical
A standard unit in Indian accounting, government statistics, and stock market reporting.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crore”
- Adding an 's' for plural (*crores is incorrect).
- Using it without a numeral (*a crore rupees). Correct: 'one crore rupees' or 'a crore of rupees'.
- Using it for numbers less than ten million.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used in international English only when discussing South Asian finance, demographics, or news. In most other global contexts, 'ten million' is preferred.
Numbers are grouped in two digits after the initial three digits. For example, 12,34,56,789 is read as 'twelve crore, thirty-four lakh, fifty-six thousand, seven hundred and eighty-nine'.
The word 'crore' is invariable; it does not take an 's'. You say 'one crore', 'ten crore', 'a hundred crore'.
It comes from Hindi/Urdu 'karor' and Sanskrit 'koṭi', meaning 'ten million'.
A unit in the Indian numbering system equal to ten million (10,000,000).
Crore is usually formal; technical (finance, economics, demographics); regional (south asian english) in register.
Crore: in British English it is pronounced /krɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /krɔr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not a single crore was wasted.”
- “He's worth several crore.”
- “Thinking in crores (referring to a large-scale financial mindset).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'CROwd of tEN million' – CRO from 'crowd', RE from 'ten' – a crowd of ten million people equals one crore.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS SIZE; WEALTH IS MASS: 'He sits on a mountain of crores.'
Practice
Quiz
In the Indian numbering system, how many millions are in one crore?