conto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Historical / Financial
Quick answer
What does “conto” mean?
A monetary unit of Portugal, equal to 1,000 escudos (historical), or a term for a large, indefinite sum of money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A monetary unit of Portugal, equal to 1,000 escudos (historical), or a term for a large, indefinite sum of money.
In financial contexts, can refer to a notional unit of account for calculating commissions or a large sum in Portuguese-speaking economies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to appear in British texts due to historical ties with Portugal.
Connotations
Historical, archaic, foreign currency.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Used in specialized historical or economic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “conto” in a Sentence
The [noun] was valued at [number] contos.He inherited [number] contos.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conto” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical financial reports referring to Portuguese transactions.
Academic
Economic history texts discussing pre-Euro Portuguese or Brazilian currency systems.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Numismatics (coin/currency collecting).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “conto”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “conto”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conto”
- Using it as a general term for 'account' (from Italian).
- Assuming it is a current currency.
- Mispronouncing as /kɒnˈtuː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical monetary unit of Portugal, replaced by the escudo and later the euro.
Not in English. In French and Italian, similar words ('conte', 'conto') can mean a story or account, but the English term 'conto' is specifically financial/historical.
In British English: /ˈkɒntəʊ/. In American English: /ˈkɑːntoʊ/.
It is a very low-frequency, specialized term. A learner would only need it for reading historical financial documents, numismatics, or very specific academic contexts related to Portugal.
A monetary unit of Portugal, equal to 1,000 escudos (historical), or a term for a large, indefinite sum of money.
Conto is usually historical / financial in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a conto (rare, modelled on 'not worth a cent').”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONTO sounds like 'count' and 'O' for Portugal – counting old Portuguese money.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURED UNIT (historical).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'conto' most accurately used?