rupee

[ roo-pee, roo-pee ]

noun

1. a cupronickel coin and monetary unit of India, Nepal, and Pakistan, equal to 100 paise. : R., Re.
2. a cupronickel coin and monetary unit of Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, equal to 100 cents.
3. Also called rufiyaa. a coin and monetary unit of the Maldives, equal to 100 laris.
4. a former monetary unit of Bhutan, equal to 100 naye paise.

rupee

/ ruːˈpiː /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of India, Nepal, and Pakistan (divided into 100 paise), Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Seychelles (divided into 100 cents)

Word History and Origins

Origin of rupee¹

First recorded in 1605–15, rupee is from the Hindi word rupayā

Word History and Origins

Origin of rupee¹

C17: from Hindi rupaīyā , from Sanskrit rūpya coined silver, from rūpa shape, beauty