koruna
LowFormal (Financial/Geopolitical)
Definition
Meaning
The primary currency unit of the Czech Republic (and formerly Czechoslovakia).
Historically, the currency of Slovakia until the adoption of the Euro. In broader context, can refer to a crown, especially in heraldic or historical Slavic contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a proper noun (currency name) in English contexts. Used untranslated for the specific currency but is a cognate of the word 'crown'. In plural, can be 'korunas', 'koruny', or 'koruna' (invariant).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. Both refer to the Czech currency. British texts may be slightly more likely to use the local plural 'koruny'.
Connotations
Neutral financial/geographic term.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing in financial news, travel guides, or historical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [NOUN] costs [NUMBER] koruna/korunas.[CURRENCY] is pegged to the koruna.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in forex trading, financial reports, and economic analyses concerning the Czech Republic.
Academic
Appears in economic history, European studies, or linguistic papers discussing loanwords.
Everyday
Used by travellers to the Czech Republic when discussing local prices and exchange.
Technical
The ISO 4217 code is CZK. The koruna is subdivided into 100 haléřů (heller).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We paid one hundred koruna for the toy.
- Do you know the current exchange rate for the koruna to the pound?
- The strength of the Czech koruna is closely tied to the performance of the EU's manufacturing sector.
- Analysts predict the koruna will appreciate against the euro once the central bank's intervention policy is relaxed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
KORUNA sounds like 'corona', which is Latin for 'crown'. The Czech currency is the crown.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY / CURRENCY IS A SOVEREIGN SYMBOL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'корона' (korona - crown), which is a different word, though etymologically related. The currency is specific to the Czech context, not a general term for money.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'koruna' as a general word for money (e.g., 'I need some koruna' is wrong unless in the Czech Republic).
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'korunas' is acceptable but 'koruny' is the Czech plural often used in English.
- Pronouncing the 'r' with a strong alveolar trill as in Czech; in English it's typically an approximant.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'koruna' in modern English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a loanword from Czech, used in English contexts specifically to refer to the Czech (and formerly Slovak) currency.
In English, both 'korunas' and the original Czech plural 'koruny' are used. The word can also be treated as invariant (e.g., '100 koruna').
No, the Czech Republic is a member of the EU but has not adopted the Euro. The official currency is the Czech koruna (CZK).
One koruna is divided into 100 haléřů (singular: haléř). However, haléř coins are no longer used in everyday transactions.