rupee

American  

[roo-pee, roo-pee] / ruˈpi, ˈru pi /

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.

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rupee British  

/ 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)

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Etymology

Origin of rupee

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

Example Sentences

A lower rupee could well help bump up India's exports competitiveness and in comparison to past crises, Delhi's comfortable forex cover gives it adequate cushion to tide over the crisis, experts say.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

“These factors, alongside portfolio capital outflows, have contributed to depreciation pressures on the Indian rupee, necessitating calibrated policy responses,” according to the report.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

The Reserve Bank of India capped net open rupee positions at $100 million by April 10, causing the dollar to fall 1.6% against the rupee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

That means less rupee liquidity for India’s banks, which will have to curtail lending and slow the economy in response.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

As I did so, something dropped from the folds, fell in the muddy water, sank and was lost; but not before I had seen that it was a rupee.

From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya