bureau de change
B1Formal to Neutral. Common in travel/tourism contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A place of business where one currency can be exchanged for another.
A business, kiosk, or counter (often found in airports, tourist areas, or banks) that offers currency exchange services, sometimes also handling traveller's cheques and related financial instruments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A borrowing from French, literally meaning 'office of exchange'. It functions as a compound noun in English, typically used in the singular form even when referring to multiple establishments. The plural is typically 'bureaux de change' or, less commonly, 'bureau de changes'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Common in UK/EU English. In American English, 'currency exchange', 'foreign exchange', or 'money exchange' are more frequent.
Connotations
In the UK, it sounds standard for the service. In the US, it may sound slightly European or formal.
Frequency
High frequency in UK travel contexts; low frequency in general US English, where native terms are preferred.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
exchange [currency] at a/the bureau de changevisit a/the bureau de changethe bureau de change offers [rate/service]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a specific type of financial service provider in travel and tourism sectors.
Academic
Rare; might appear in economics or tourism studies discussing financial infrastructure.
Everyday
Used when discussing travel plans, needing cash abroad, or comparing exchange rates.
Technical
Not typically used in high finance; 'foreign exchange desk' or 'FX market' are preferred.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We need to find a bureau de change.
- The bureau de change is near the hotel.
- I got euros at the bureau de change in the airport.
- The rates are better at the local bureau de change than at the hotel.
- Before leaving the terminal, she compared the rates at three different bureaux de change.
- Many independent bureaux de change charge a commission on top of the exchange rate.
- The proliferation of unregulated bureaux de change in the city centre has raised concerns about money laundering.
- Tourists are often unaware of the significant spread between the buy and sell rates offered by a typical bureau de change.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BUREAU' (like a desk/office) for 'CHANGE' (changing money). An office for change.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SERVICE POINT conceptualised as a CONTAINER (you go into it) or a TOOL (you use it to transform money).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'бюро перемен'.
- The Russian equivalent is 'обменный пункт' or 'обмен валюты'.
- Avoid associating 'bureau' only with a government/office agency (бюро).
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'change' as English /tʃeɪndʒ/ instead of French /ˈʃɒ̃ʒ/ or /ˈʃɑːnʒ/.
- Using incorrect plural: 'bureau de changes' is non-standard.
- Treating it as a fully English compound and stressing 'change' as in verb 'to change'.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most commonly used in American English for 'bureau de change'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The correct plural is 'bureaux de change', following the French pattern. The anglicised 'bureau de changes' is sometimes heard but is non-standard.
It is understood but rarely used. Americans typically say 'currency exchange', 'foreign exchange', or 'money exchange'.
Primarily, yes, they exchange banknotes. Some may also handle traveller's cheques or offer wire transfer services, but this is less common.
Pronounce it with a French-style 'sh' sound and a nasal vowel: /ˈʃɒ̃ʒ/ in UK English or /ˈʃɑːnʒ/ in US English. It does NOT rhyme with English 'range'.