cruzeiro: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Historical/Financial
Quick answer
What does “cruzeiro” mean?
The former official currency of Brazil, used from 1942 to 1994 and again briefly in the 1990s.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The former official currency of Brazil, used from 1942 to 1994 and again briefly in the 1990s.
A term referring to the historical Brazilian currency; also the name of a famous Brazilian football club (Cruzeiro Esporte Clube).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage between UK and US English; the word is used identically as a loanword from Portuguese.
Connotations
Historical currency, Brazilian culture, football.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in specialized contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cruzeiro” in a Sentence
the [Brazilian] cruzeiro[number] cruzeiroscruzeiro [note/coin]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cruzeiro” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The cruzeiro era ended in 1994.
- He collects cruzeiro banknotes.
American English
- The cruzeiro period was marked by inflation.
- She found a cruzeiro coin in her grandfather's drawer.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in historical financial reports or discussions of Brazilian economic history.
Academic
Appears in economic history texts, papers on currency reform, or Latin American studies.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in conversations about travel history, collecting old currency, or Brazilian football.
Technical
Found in numismatics (coin collecting) or economic timelines detailing Brazilian currency changes.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cruzeiro”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cruzeiro”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cruzeiro”
- Misspelling as 'crusiero' or 'cruzero'.
- Using it to refer to the current Brazilian real.
- Incorrect plural: 'cruzeiroes' (correct: 'cruzeiros').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the cruzeiro is not legal tender. It was replaced by the Brazilian real (BRL) in 1994.
Yes, it is also the name of a famous Brazilian football club, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, based in Belo Horizonte.
In British English, it is approximately /kruːˈzeɪrəʊ/. In American English, it is approximately /kruˈzeɪroʊ/.
It is used as a loanword when specifically discussing the historical Brazilian currency or the football club, as there is no direct English equivalent.
The former official currency of Brazil, used from 1942 to 1994 and again briefly in the 1990s.
Cruzeiro is usually formal/historical/financial in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a cruzeiro (rare, implying worthlessness)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'cruise' to Brazil + 'zero' value after hyperinflation = cruzeiro, the old currency.
Conceptual Metaphor
A relic of the past (for the currency); a symbol of sporting pride (for the football club).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cruzeiro' used to refer to something other than currency?