centime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Historical, Financial/Numismatic
Quick answer
What does “centime” mean?
A monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and some other countries, equal to one hundredth of a franc or other related base unit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and some other countries, equal to one hundredth of a franc or other related base unit.
A very small unit of currency; something of minimal monetary value. In historical contexts, it refers to a unit of currency in various Francophone countries that used the franc system, often before the adoption of the euro.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning. Both British and American English speakers understand it as a foreign currency unit. It is not a part of everyday discourse in either variety.
Connotations
Carries connotations of French or European financial systems, historical commerce, or (metaphorically) extreme cheapness.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in British English due to geographical and historical proximity to Europe, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “centime” in a Sentence
[Verb] + centime(s): save/pinch/lose/squander every centime[Number] + centime(s): twenty centimesnot worth a centimewithout a centimeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “centime” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The centime coins were phased out after the war.
- It was a centime-per-kilo tax.
American English
- The centime coins were phased out after the war.
- It was a centime-per-pound tax.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in historical financial reports or when discussing legacy currency systems in Francophone Africa.
Academic
Appears in economic history, numismatics, and post-colonial studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation except metaphorically ('I wouldn't give a centime for it').
Technical
Specific to currency codes (e.g., XAF, XOF for CFA franc zones, where centime is the subdivision), philately (stamp values), and numismatics.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “centime”
- Pronouncing it as /ˈsen.taɪm/ (anglicised). The final syllable is '-teem'.
- Using it to refer to the subdivision of the euro (which is the 'cent').
- Pluralising irregularly ('centime' -> 'centimes').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A centime is a subdivision of the franc (and currencies pegged to it, like the CFA franc). A euro cent (or just 'cent') is the subdivision of the euro. They are analogous units but belong to different currency systems.
Absolutely not. The US dollar is subdivided into cents (100 cents = 1 dollar). Using 'centime' would be incorrect and confusing.
No, it is a low-frequency word. Most English speakers will encounter it only in specific contexts like travel in French-speaking regions, historical novels, or financial history.
The plural is 'centimes', pronounced with a final /z/ sound in English: /ˈsɒ̃.tiːmz/ (UK) or /ˈsɑːn.tiːmz/ (US).
A monetary unit of France, Belgium, Switzerland, and some other countries, equal to one hundredth of a franc or other related base unit.
Centime is usually formal, historical, financial/numismatic in register.
Centime: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɒ̃.tiːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɑːn.tiːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a red centime”
- “Pinch every centime”
- “Without a centime to one's name”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CENTury and tIME: a CENTury has 100 years, a centime is one hundredth of a franc. Or, CENT + dime (a US 10-cent coin) - a small cent-related coin.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURABLE SUBSTANCE (counted in units), MINIMAL VALUE IS INSIGNIFICANT/IRRELEVANT.
Practice
Quiz
In which modern currency system is 'centime' the official subdivision?