kina
LowFormal/Financial
Definition
Meaning
The primary unit of currency in Papua New Guinea.
A monetary unit used in Papua New Guinea, subdivided into 100 toea. The term is also used in some contexts to refer to the currency system or economy of Papua New Guinea.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a proper noun when referring specifically to the currency. It is not used in a general sense for money outside the context of Papua New Guinea.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is specific to Papua New Guinea and used identically in both British and American English financial contexts.
Connotations
Neutral financial/geopolitical term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, appearing primarily in financial reports, travel guides, or texts concerning Papua New Guinea.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [noun] costs [number] kina.Exchange your dollars for kina.The kina is pegged to the [currency].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in international finance and forex trading concerning Papua New Guinea.
Academic
Appears in economic, anthropological, or geographical studies of Papua New Guinea.
Everyday
Virtually unused except by travellers to or residents of Papua New Guinea.
Technical
Used in banking and foreign exchange systems with the ISO code PGK.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have five kina in my pocket.
- This costs ten kina.
- You need to change your money into kina before you travel to Port Moresby.
- The souvenir was only twenty kina.
- The kina has remained relatively stable against the Australian dollar this quarter.
- Tourists often find goods priced in both kina and US dollars.
- Fluctuations in commodity prices can significantly impact the value of the kina.
- The central bank intervened to prevent a sharp depreciation of the kina.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'key' to buying things in Papua New Guinea: you need the 'kina'.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A TOOL (for exchange in a specific nation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'кино' (kino - cinema).
- It is a proper noun for a currency, not a general word for money like 'деньги'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'kina' as a plural (it is both singular and plural, like 'yen').
- Capitalising it unnecessarily in mid-sentence (only capitalise at the start of a sentence).
Practice
Quiz
What is the kina?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both singular and plural, similar to 'yen' or 'sheep'. You say 'one kina' and 'fifty kina'.
The kina is the official currency only in Papua New Guinea.
The kina is often abbreviated as 'K' or 'PGK', its ISO 4217 currency code. For example, K100 or PGK 100.
No, the kina is not an internationally traded currency. It must be exchanged before leaving Papua New Guinea, as it is generally not accepted by banks or bureaux de change elsewhere.