crorepati: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specific to South Asian English contexts; rarely used in other varieties of English)Informal, occasionally used in formal financial/business reporting within South Asia.
Quick answer
What does “crorepati” mean?
A person possessing wealth worth at least one crore (10 million) of a specified currency, most commonly Indian rupees.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person possessing wealth worth at least one crore (10 million) of a specified currency, most commonly Indian rupees.
A term used, especially in South Asian contexts, to denote a wealthy millionaire or multi-millionaire. It is often associated with high financial status and success in business, and is used as a positive aspirational label.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is almost exclusively used in Indian English and other South Asian varieties of English. It is rarely, if ever, used or understood in general British or American English without contextual explanation.
Connotations
In British/American contexts, it would be seen as a foreign loanword with exotic connotations. In South Asian contexts, it carries strong positive connotations of financial success and social status.
Frequency
Frequency is effectively zero in general British and American English. It has moderate frequency in Indian English media, business, and everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “crorepati” in a Sentence
[Person/Company] is/becomes a crorepati.The number of [e.g., tax] crorepatis has increased.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crorepati” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He crorepati-ed after selling his tech shares.
- They hope to crorepati within the next five years.
American English
- He became a crorepati after selling his tech shares.
- They aim to join the crorepati ranks soon.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The crorepati businessman donated to charity.
- She comes from a crorepati family.
American English
- The multi-millionaire businessman donated to charity.
- She comes from a very wealthy family.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in financial news, reports on taxation, and profiles of successful entrepreneurs (e.g., 'The startup created over fifty new crorepatis.').
Academic
Rare; might appear in socio-economic studies on wealth distribution in South Asia.
Everyday
Common in aspirational talk, discussions about lottery wins, career success, or property prices in India.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside of specific socio-economic analysis of South Asia.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crorepati”
- Mispronouncing it as 'crow-pati' or 'crory-pati'.
- Using it to mean simply 'rich person' without the specific 10-million-unit connotation.
- Using it in contexts outside South Asia without explanation.
- Misspelling as 'crorepathy' or 'crorpati'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from South Asian languages that is fully integrated into Indian English and understood in that context. It is not part of the core vocabulary of international English.
One crore is 10 million (10,000,000). Therefore, a rupee crorepati has wealth of at least 10 million Indian Rupees (INR). A dollar crorepati has at least 10 million US Dollars (USD).
The word itself is gender-neutral. However, the feminine form 'crorepatni' is sometimes used in Indian media and conversation, though 'crorepati' remains the most common form for all genders.
It is primarily used for individuals. For companies, terms like 'crore-rupee company' or 'company with a crore in turnover' are more typical.
A person possessing wealth worth at least one crore (10 million) of a specified currency, most commonly Indian rupees.
Crorepati is usually informal, occasionally used in formal financial/business reporting within south asia. in register.
Crorepati: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔː.pə.tiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkrɔr.pə.ti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Join the crorepati club”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROW (sounds like 'cro') wearing a PATI-ent gown, sitting on a pile of 10 million rupees. The crow is the master (pati) of the crore.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A MEASURABLE THRESHOLD (crossing the crore line). WEALTH IS A CLUB (one can become a member).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'crorepati' most commonly used and understood?