dinar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Financial, Historical
Quick answer
What does “dinar” mean?
The basic monetary unit of several countries, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The basic monetary unit of several countries, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.
A historical gold coin used in the medieval Islamic world; by extension, any currency unit named dinar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term in financial and geopolitical contexts.
Connotations
Neutral financial/geopolitical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in financial news, history, or travel contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “dinar” in a Sentence
the [Nationality] dinarexchange [currency] for dinarspay in dinarsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dinar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- dinar-denominated bonds
American English
- dinar-denominated assets
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in international finance and forex trading: 'The firm hedged its exposure to the Iraqi dinar.'
Academic
Appears in economic history and Middle Eastern studies: 'The gold dinar facilitated trade across the Abbasid Caliphate.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except when discussing travel to relevant countries: 'Do I need to get dinars before travelling to Jordan?'
Technical
Used in economics and numismatics (coin collecting).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dinar”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dinar”
- Using 'dinar' as a countable noun without a national specifier (e.g., 'I have some dinars' is unclear).
- Misspelling as 'dinner' or 'diner'.
- Assuming it is a universal term for Middle Eastern currency (not all countries use it).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency term specific to certain countries' currencies and historical contexts.
Yes, the plural is 'dinars' (e.g., 'I have 100 dinars'), but it is usually preceded by the nationality (e.g., 'Jordanian dinars').
It derives from the Latin 'denarius', a Roman silver coin, via Arabic 'dīnār'.
Yes, but only in a few countries like Serbia and North Macedonia, not in the European Union's eurozone.
The basic monetary unit of several countries, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.
Dinar is usually formal, financial, historical in register.
Dinar: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdiːnɑː/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈnɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DINAR sounds like 'DINNER' in a fancy restaurant abroad – you might need local DINAR to pay for it.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY (e.g., the dinar as a symbol of Iraqi sovereignty).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a country that uses the dinar?