Is 'decime' a common English word?

No, it is an extremely rare, historical term. Most native English speakers will not know it.

Can I use 'decime' to mean a US dime?

No, this is incorrect. A US 10-cent coin is a 'dime'. 'Decime' refers specifically to a former Argentine coin.

Where would I encounter the word 'decime'?

You might find it in historical texts about Argentina, in numismatics (coin collecting) catalogues, or in literature using archaic terms for small amounts of money.

What is the plural of 'decime'?

The standard English plural is 'decimes' (pronounced /ˈdɛsɪmeɪz/).

decime

Extremely Low

UK/ˈdɛsɪmeɪ/US/ˈdɛsɪmeɪ/

Historical / Archaic / Regional / Technical

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A small, obsolete unit of currency; a tenth part of something (historically used in Argentina).

Primarily a historical term referring to a former Argentine coin worth one-tenth of a peso, or used in literature/contexts to denote a small amount or fraction. As a Latin-influenced term, it can also appear in poetic or technical contexts meaning 'tenth'.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

In modern international English, this word is virtually unknown and not part of active vocabulary. Its primary recognition is in historical numismatics (coin collecting) or in references to Argentine history. Use will almost always require explanation.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in usage between BrE and AmE, as the word is not part of standard vocabulary in either variety. Recognition might be slightly higher in BrE due to historical interest in foreign coinage.

Connotations

Historical, archaic, specialist.

Frequency

Effectively zero in both varieties.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Argentine decimeold decimecopper decimeten decimes

medium

worth a decimea single decimehistorical decime

weak

small decimerare decimecollection of decimes

Grammar

Valency Patterns

The N (coin) was a decime.It was worth a decime.a decime of a peso

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

décimo (Spanish)

Neutral

tenthtenth part

Weak

fractionsmall coinobole (historical)

Vocabulary

Antonyms

wholepesodollarinteger

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not worth a decime”
“(archaic) Without a decime to his name”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Not used in modern business contexts.

Academic

Only in historical, economic, or numismatic papers regarding 19th/early 20th century Latin America.

Everyday

Never used in everyday conversation.

Technical

Used in numismatics (coin collecting) to describe specific Argentine currency from 1881-1969.

Examples

By CEFR Level

The old coin collection included an Argentine decime.

In the 19th century, ten decimes made one Argentine peso.

Numismatists value the 1893 decime for its unique minting error.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'DECImal' or 'DECImate' (originally to kill one in ten). A deci-me is one-tenth (of a peso).

Conceptual Metaphor

A SMALL AMOUNT IS AN INSIGNIFICANT OBJECT (e.g., 'not worth a decime').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with Russian 'дециметр' (decimetre - a unit of length).
Do not confuse with the Italian/Spanish imperative verb form 'dime/dígame' meaning 'tell me'.

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'dime' (US 10-cent coin).
Using it in a modern financial context.
Pronouncing it /dɪˈsaɪm/.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The antique shop sold a coin from 1910 that was a single Argentine .

Multiple Choice

A 'decime' was historically a fraction of which currency?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is an extremely rare, historical term. Most native English speakers will not know it.
: No, this is incorrect. A US 10-cent coin is a 'dime'. 'Decime' refers specifically to a former Argentine coin.
: You might find it in historical texts about Argentina, in numismatics (coin collecting) catalogues, or in literature using archaic terms for small amounts of money.
: The standard English plural is 'decimes' (pronounced /ˈdɛsɪmeɪz/).