bolivar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Financial, Historical
Quick answer
What does “bolivar” mean?
The primary monetary unit of Venezuela.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The primary monetary unit of Venezuela.
A historical figure, Simón Bolívar, the South American liberator, after whom the currency is named. In some contexts, used metonymically for Venezuela or its economy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both refer to the Venezuelan currency or the liberator.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries strong connotations of Venezuelan politics and economic instability in modern contexts.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both; used primarily in international finance, history, or Latin American studies.
Grammar
How to Use “bolivar” in a Sentence
[The] bolivar [verb: fell/strengthened/devalued][Amount] bolivars [verb: are/were] [action: exchanged/paid][Noun] is priced in bolivars.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bolivar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form)
American English
- (No standard verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective form)
American English
- (No standard adjective form)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in forex trading, international finance reports, and economic analysis concerning Venezuela. Example: 'The bolivar lost 15% against the dollar this month.'
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and economic texts. Example: 'Bolivar's political vision contrasted sharply with the economic reality of the modern bolivar.'
Everyday
Rare outside news about Venezuela. Example: 'I heard the bolivar is practically worthless now.'
Technical
Specific currency codes: VEB (old), VEF (old), VES (current). Used on trading platforms and in banking software.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bolivar”
- Misspelling as 'boliver' or 'boliviar'.
- Using incorrect verb agreement: 'Five bolivar was' instead of 'Five bolivars were'.
- Capitalising incorrectly in running text about currency (can be lowercase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to Simón Bolívar, yes. When referring to the currency, it is often capitalized in formal financial writing but can be lowercased in general use.
Rarely. It is also the name of a wide-brimmed hat, but this usage is historical and very uncommon in modern English.
It is named in honour of Simón Bolívar, the 19th-century military and political leader who played a key role in liberating several South American countries from Spanish rule.
As of recent decades, no. It has experienced severe hyperinflation, leading to several redenominations (e.g., bolivar fuerte, sovereign bolivar).
The primary monetary unit of Venezuela.
Bolivar is usually formal, financial, historical in register.
Bolivar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒlɪvɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /boʊˈliːvɑːr/ or /ˈbɑːləvɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a bolivar (informal, implying extreme worthlessness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BOLLYwood star gave a LIVe peRformance in Venezuela for bolivars.' Links the sound to the currency.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIVING ENTITY (The bolivar is struggling), HISTORY IS A FOUNDATION (Bolivar's legacy underpins the nation).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern meaning of 'bolivar' in an international context?