The specific heat of NdCrO 3 in the thermal range from 0.3 to 300 K is presented. The magnetic ordering of Cr ions at T N ϭ219Ϯ1 K is observed, as well as the spin reorientation transition ͑SRT͒ at T SRT ϭ34.2 Ϯ0.5 K. The specific heat of the isostructural nonmagnetic compound LaGaO 3 has been subtracted, allowing us to separate and quantify the different magnetic contributions to the specific heat in NdCrO 3. The exchange coupling constant for the Cr-Cr interaction is found to be ͉J Cr ͉/k B ϭ21.7͑7͒ K. The fitting of the Schottky contribution from the thermal depopulation of the Nd 3ϩ 4 I 9/2 ground multiplet allows us to propose a crystalfield energy-level scheme which is in agreement with the available neutron-scattering spectral lines. The intensity of the Nd-Cr magnetic interaction is obtained. Finally, we show that the strength of the Nd-Cr interaction in this compound is of the same order of magnitude as that found in other Nd orthoperovskites, namely, in NdFeO 3 , despite the different Zeeman splitting of the Nd ground doublet in both compounds.