How to Write an Amount in Words on a Cheque in Nepal (Nepali and English)

A cheque has two places for the amount: the figure box and the line for the amount in words. Banks in Nepal check that the two match exactly. If they don’t, or the words are unclear, the cheque can be returned. Writing the words correctly is easy once you know the pattern, and this guide shows it in both English and Nepali.

If you just need the words, type the amount into our number to words tool. It writes the cheque wording for you in both languages, ready to copy.

Convert an amount to words

The pattern

1. Start with Rupees (in Nepali, the amount comes first and रुपैयाँ comes after it).
2. Write the amount using lakh and crore, the way Nepal groups numbers.
3. Add the paisa if there are any.
4. End with Only (मात्र), so nobody can add words after yours.

Lakh and crore, not million

Nepal groups large numbers in twos after the first thousand. 1,25,000 is one lakh twenty-five thousand, not “one hundred twenty-five thousand”. Cheques in Nepal use this system in English too.

Write the figure with the same grouping: 1,25,000 rather than 125,000.

Examples in English and Nepali

These examples come straight from our number to words tool.

Paisa

If the amount has paisa, write them after the rupees: “and Seventy-Five Paisa” in English, or “पचहत्तर पैसा” in Nepali. Many people write paisa as a fraction instead, like “Rupees Three Lakh Fifty Thousand and 75/100 Only”. Both are widely used; follow your bank’s preference if it has one.

Nepali number words to know

Nepali numbers from 1 to 99 each have their own word, and several are easy to misspell. A few that appear on cheques often:

• 25 पच्चीस, 50 पचास, 75 पचहत्तर
• 100 सय, 1,000 हजार, 1,00,000 लाख, 1,00,00,000 करोड
• 99 उनान्सय (spellings vary a little between sources)

Our Nepali numbers guide covers the digits ० to ९ and how to type them.

Mistakes that get cheques returned

• Words and figures don’t match. Double-check after writing. A missing “thousand” changes the amount completely.
• No “Only” at the end. Leaving space after the words invites someone to add more.
• Gaps before the amount. Start writing right at the beginning of the line, and draw a line through any space left after “Only”.
• Overwriting or corrections. Many banks don’t accept a corrected amount. Write a fresh cheque instead.
• Mixing systems. Don’t write “One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand” on one line and 1,25,000 in the box; use lakh and crore for both.
• Unclear handwriting. Write the Nepali or English words clearly, in one language for the whole line.

A quick checklist

1. The figure uses Nepali grouping, like 1,25,000.
2. The words start with Rupees (or end with रुपैयाँ in Nepali).
3. Paisa are included if there are any.
4. The words end with Only (मात्र).
5. Words and figure match exactly, with no corrections.

Rules can differ slightly between banks, so if you are writing a large or important cheque, it’s worth asking your bank how it prefers the amount written.