dirhem: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Historical
Quick answer
What does “dirhem” mean?
A unit of currency and weight used historically in various Islamic states and regions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of currency and weight used historically in various Islamic states and regions.
A small silver coin, historically used in the Middle East, North Africa, and Muslim Spain; also a unit of weight equal to approximately 3.0 to 3.2 grams.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage difference; the term is equally rare in both regional Englishes.
Connotations
Evokes historical, Islamic, or medieval economic contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in all general corpora; found mainly in specialist historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “dirhem” in a Sentence
The [RULER/DYNASTY] dirhem was minted in [CITY].It weighed approximately [NUMBER] dirhems.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used in modern business.
Academic
Used in history, archaeology, and Islamic studies publications.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in numismatics (coin collecting) and historical metrology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dirhem”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dirhem”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dirhem”
- Spelling: 'dirham' is a related but distinct modern currency unit (e.g., UAE dirham). 'Dirhem' is the historical form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical unit. The modern 'dirham' (e.g., of the UAE) is a different currency, though the names are related.
Its value varied over time and region, but it was typically a small silver coin weighing about 3 grams.
Primarily in numismatics (coin collecting), Islamic history, archaeology, and historical economics.
Traditionally, a dirhem was a silver coin, while a dinar was a gold coin. Both were used in the medieval Islamic monetary system.
A unit of currency and weight used historically in various Islamic states and regions.
Dirhem is usually technical/historical in register.
Dirhem: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɪə.rɛm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɪr.əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a dirhem.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIRHEM' sounds like 'dear hem' - imagine a precious (dear) silver coin sewn into the hem of a medieval robe.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS METAL (historical conceptualisation of currency).
Practice
Quiz
A 'dirhem' is primarily: