Is 'dalasi' used for any currency other than Gambian?

No, it is the exclusive name for the currency of The Gambia.

How do you pronounce 'dalasi'?

It is pronounced /dəˈlɑːsi/ (duh-LAH-see), with the stress on the second syllable.

What is the plural of 'dalasi'?

The standard plural is 'dalasis' (e.g., 'twenty dalasis').

Where does the word 'dalasi' come from?

It is derived from 'dala', a Mandinka word referring to a unit of five French West African francs, which were historically in use.

dalasi

Rare

UK/dəˈlɑːsi/US/dəˈlɑsi/

Formal, Financial, Geographical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

The basic unit of currency in The Gambia.

A monetary term, strictly referring to the national currency of The Gambia, subdivided into 100 bututs. It has no extended metaphorical or figurative use in English.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This is a proper noun (capitalized when referring to the specific currency) and a countable noun (e.g., five dalasis). Its usage is almost exclusively tied to contexts involving The Gambia or foreign exchange.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in usage or spelling. Both varieties use the term only in reference to Gambian currency.

Connotations

None beyond its primary financial/geographical reference.

Frequency

Equally rare in both varieties, encountered primarily in financial news, travel guides, or geography contexts.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Gambian dalasione dalasiexchange ratecurrency

medium

worth a few dalasisprices in dalasisconvert to dalasis

weak

banknotecointripmarket

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[Number] dalasi(s)the dalasi [verb, e.g., strengthened, weakened]pay in dalasis

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

Gambian currencyGMD (ISO code)

Weak

money (in Gambian context)

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Used in foreign exchange reports and international finance contexts concerning The Gambia.

Academic

Appears in economic studies, geographical texts, or papers on West African economies.

Everyday

Virtually unused except by travelers to The Gambia or people with specific financial ties to the country.

Technical

A specific term in numismatics (coin collecting) and forex trading.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The shop in The Gambia only takes dalasis.

I need to exchange my pounds for Gambian dalasi before my trip.

The value of the dalasi has remained relatively stable against the US dollar this quarter.

Forex analysts noted a slight appreciation of the dalasi following the positive tourism figures.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine you're in a DALA (a courtyard) in The Gambia, and you see SI (see) the local currency: the DALASI.

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable; the term is a specific referent with no common metaphorical mapping.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with "долары" (dollars) due to phonetic similarity of the first syllable.
It is a specific proper noun, not a generic term for money like "деньги".

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'dalassy' or 'dalacy'.
Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'much dalasi' instead of 'many dalasis').
Assuming it is a currency from a different region like Asia.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The official currency of The Gambia is the .

Multiple Choice

What is the subdivision of the Gambian dalasi?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is the exclusive name for the currency of The Gambia.
: It is pronounced /dəˈlɑːsi/ (duh-LAH-see), with the stress on the second syllable.
: The standard plural is 'dalasis' (e.g., 'twenty dalasis').
: It is derived from 'dala', a Mandinka word referring to a unit of five French West African francs, which were historically in use.