lari
C2Formal/Technical
Definition
Meaning
The basic monetary unit of Georgia.
A currency; a system of money in general use in a particular country, specifically Georgia.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun referring to a specific national currency. Almost exclusively used in contexts discussing Georgian economy, finance, or travel.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning. Both variants use 'lari' for the Georgian currency. Usage is equally rare in both dialects.
Connotations
Neutral, technical. Connotes foreign travel, international finance, or economic reporting on Georgia.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Found almost exclusively in financial news, travel guides, or geography/economics texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
exchange [currency] for laripay [amount] in larithe lari is [verb, e.g., strengthening, weakening]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in international finance and forex trading reports concerning Georgia.
Academic
Used in economics, political science, or geography papers focusing on the Caucasus region.
Everyday
Used by tourists returning from or planning a trip to Georgia.
Technical
Used in banking systems, currency conversion APIs, and international payment platforms.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- lari-denominated bonds
American English
- lari-denominated assets
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In Georgia, you pay with lari.
- The hotel cost one hundred lari per night.
- I changed my euros to lari at the bank.
- The Georgian lari has remained relatively stable against the euro this quarter.
- Tourists are advised to carry some lari for small purchases in rural areas.
- The central bank intervened to prevent a sharp devaluation of the lari.
- Foreign direct investment has contributed to the strengthening of the lari on international markets.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LARI' as 'LARI in Tbilisi' - linking it to the capital of Georgia.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A FLUID ('The lari is flowing out of the country'), MONEY IS A MEASURE ('The lari is a measure of economic health').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'ларь' (stall/kiosk).
- The English 'lari' is singular; the plural is 'lari' (not 'laris').
- Not related to the Russian verb 'ларить' (colloquial for trying hard).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'lari' as a plural (e.g., 'five laris' - incorrect; 'five lari' is correct).
- Confusing it with currencies of neighbouring countries (e.g., Armenian dram, Azerbaijani manat).
- Misspelling as 'larri', 'larry', or 'lary'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the lari?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The plural is 'lari'. It is an invariant noun (like 'sheep' or 'yen'). Do not add an 's'.
The ISO 4217 currency code is GEL. The symbol is ლ or sometimes abbreviated as 'l'.
No, it is not an international reserve currency. Its use is confined to Georgia, though it can be exchanged at some international banks and forex bureaus.
No, it refers specifically to the Georgian currency. Using it as a general synonym for 'money' would be incorrect and confusing.