piastre: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Historical, Technical (Numismatics), Literary
Quick answer
What does “piastre” mean?
A unit of currency, historically a small silver coin, still used as a subdivision of the main currency unit in several Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of currency, historically a small silver coin, still used as a subdivision of the main currency unit in several Middle Eastern and North African countries.
A general term for a small coin or an amount of money of low value, particularly in historical or literary contexts referring to the Mediterranean region or the Ottoman Empire.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The spelling 'piastre' is more common in UK English; 'piaster' is a frequent American variant, though not exclusive.
Connotations
Connotes foreign, historical, or exotic currency, particularly associated with former Ottoman territories or French colonial influence.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in everyday language for both; slightly higher occurrence in British English due to historical colonial ties.
Grammar
How to Use “piastre” in a Sentence
the [Nationality] piastre[Number] piastre(s)a [denomination] piastre coinVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “piastre” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The old piastre coin was heavily worn.
American English
- A piaster note is rarely seen in circulation today.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific international finance dealing with Egyptian or Lebanese currency subdivisions.
Academic
Used in historical, economic, and numismatic texts discussing Ottoman or Middle Eastern monetary systems.
Everyday
Virtually non-existent in general conversation outside specific countries of use.
Technical
Standard term in numismatics for certain historical coins and in forex for certain national currency subdivisions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “piastre”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “piastre”
- Misspelling as 'piaster' (common AmE variant) or 'peastre'.
- Using it as a synonym for any small modern coin like a penny.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'piastres' is standard, though 'piasters' also occurs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but not independently. It survives as a subdivision (1/100) of the Egyptian pound and the Lebanese pound, though inflation has made coins of a few piastres virtually worthless.
'Piastre' is the more common British English spelling, while 'piaster' is a frequent American English variant. Both refer to the same monetary unit.
No, it is not a general term. Its use is specific to historical contexts or the currencies of certain countries (e.g., Egypt, Lebanon, Syria). Using it generically would sound archaic or affected.
It derives from the Italian 'piastra', meaning 'thin metal plate', which referred to a silver coin. The term entered English via French and was used for various coins in the Mediterranean and Middle East.
A unit of currency, historically a small silver coin, still used as a subdivision of the main currency unit in several Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Piastre is usually historical, technical (numismatics), literary in register.
Piastre: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɪæstə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /piˈæstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a piastre”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Picture an old PIAzza in an ITalian S TREet market where merchants once traded silver piastres.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A MEASURE OF VALUE (a small measure); HISTORY IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY (associated with past/foreign lands).
Practice
Quiz
In which modern country is the piastre still an official subdivision of the national currency?