Is 'kurus' a common English word?

No, it is a very low-frequency loanword used almost exclusively in contexts related to Turkey.

What is the plural of 'kurus'?

The plural is 'kurus'. It is an invariant plural, like the Turkish original.

Can I use 'kurus' to talk about cents or pence?

No. It refers specifically to the Turkish subunit. Using it for other currencies would be incorrect and confusing.

How is 'kurus' pronounced in English?

It is typically anglicised as /kʊˈruːʃ/, with the stress on the second syllable. The 'u' is like in 'put', and the 'sh' is as in 'shoe'.

kurus

Very Low

UK/kʊˈruːʃ/US/kʊˈruːʃ/

Formal, Specialized (Finance/History)

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A subdivision of the Turkish lira; one hundredth of a lira.

Used in historical or financial contexts to denote a very small monetary unit, sometimes metaphorically for something of minimal value or significance.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

This is a loanword from Turkish (kuruş). Its use in English is almost exclusively confined to contexts discussing Turkish currency, economics, or history. It is not a general term for small change.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference. The term is equally rare and specialized in both varieties, primarily appearing in financial reports, travel guides, or historical texts related to Turkey.

Connotations

Neutral and factual. Carries no particular connotation beyond its monetary definition.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both corpora. More likely to be encountered in written, specialist contexts than in everyday speech.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Turkish kurusone kurusa few kurus

medium

coinliravalueprice

weak

oldsinglespareworth

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[numeral] + kurusthe + kurus + [verb]

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Neutral

piastre (historical)cent (in context)

Weak

small changeminor unit

Vocabulary

Antonyms

liramajor unit

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“not worth a kurus (very rare, modelled on 'not worth a cent')”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Appears in financial analyses or reports concerning Turkish markets or currency exchange.

Academic

Used in economic, historical, or numismatic studies focusing on Turkey or the Ottoman Empire.

Everyday

Virtually never used. Might be encountered by travelers or in very specific news items about Turkey.

Technical

Specific to finance (foreign exchange) and numismatics (coin collecting).

Examples

By CEFR Level

The sweet cost only a few kurus.

I found an old coin, a Turkish kurus, in my drawer.

The price increased by fifty kurus, reflecting the minor inflation.

Numismatists value the 1940s kurus for its unique minting error.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a Turkish market where you need just one more 'kurus' to buy something - it sounds like 'cure us' from a small financial headache.

Conceptual Metaphor

SMALL MONETARY UNITS ARE INSIGNIFICANT OBJECTS.

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not confuse with the Russian word 'курс' (kurs), which means 'exchange rate' or 'course'. The words are unrelated and refer to different financial concepts.

Common Mistakes

Misspelling as 'kurosh', 'kurush', or 'curus'.
Using it as a general term for any small coin outside a Turkish context.
Incorrect pluralisation as 'kuri' (correct plural: 'kurus').

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The historic tram ride in Istanbul used to cost just a few .

Multiple Choice

In which context is the word 'kurus' most appropriately used?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is a very low-frequency loanword used almost exclusively in contexts related to Turkey.
: The plural is 'kurus'. It is an invariant plural, like the Turkish original.
: No. It refers specifically to the Turkish subunit. Using it for other currencies would be incorrect and confusing.
: It is typically anglicised as /kʊˈruːʃ/, with the stress on the second syllable. The 'u' is like in 'put', and the 'sh' is as in 'shoe'.