money cowry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Specialised / Academic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “money cowry” mean?
The shell of a small sea snail (Monetaria moneta) historically and traditionally used as currency in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The shell of a small sea snail (Monetaria moneta) historically and traditionally used as currency in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Any cowry shell, especially of the Monetaria genus, that has been used as a medium of exchange, a measure of value, or for ornamental purposes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of anthropology, economic history, pre-modern trade, and traditional societies.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language; appears almost exclusively in anthropological, historical, or numismatic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “money cowry” in a Sentence
[The] money cowry was used as [currency] in [region].[Subject] traded/gathered/exchanged money cowries.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “money cowry” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The money-cowry trade routes stretched across continents.
American English
- The money-cowry trade routes stretched across continents.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in modern business contexts.
Academic
Used in anthropology, archaeology, economic history, and African/Asian/Pacific studies to discuss pre-modern economies.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in museums, documentaries, or historical novels.
Technical
A precise term in malacology (study of molluscs) for the species, and in economic anthropology for its historical use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “money cowry”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “money cowry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “money cowry”
- Misspelling 'cowry' as 'cowrie' (both are accepted, but 'cowry' is specified here).
- Using it as a synonym for modern money.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (unless at the start of a sentence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its use as official currency has been replaced by modern coinage and banknotes, though it may retain symbolic or ceremonial value in some cultures.
Not exactly. 'Cowrie shell' is a general term for shells of the Cypraeidae family. 'Money cowry' (Monetaria moneta) is a specific species within that family, historically favoured for use as currency.
They are native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, particularly the waters around the Maldives, and were traded from there to Africa and other parts of the world.
Very rarely. Its use is almost always literal and historical. A figurative use like 'His collection was his money cowry' would be highly creative and obscure.
The shell of a small sea snail (Monetaria moneta) historically and traditionally used as currency in many parts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Money cowry is usually specialised / academic / historical in register.
Money cowry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmʌni ˈkaʊri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʌni ˈkaʊri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MONKEY paying with a shiny COWRIE shell instead of MONEY: the MONey COWRy.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NATURAL OBJECT IS CURRENCY (the shell is a coin).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for encountering the term 'money cowry' today?