taler
C1Historical, Formal, Specialized (Numismatics)
Definition
Meaning
A historical silver coin used in various German states from the 16th to the 19th century.
A term occasionally used as an archaism or in historical/numismatic contexts to refer to a large coin or a unit of value, and as the root for the modern word 'dollar'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is primarily historical. In modern English, it is encountered almost exclusively in historical texts or discussions of currency history. The plural is 'talers'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare. The spelling 'thaler' is also common and reflects the original German more closely.
Connotations
Evokes European, specifically German, economic history.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] taler was minted in [PLACE].He paid [AMOUNT] in talers.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a taler”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used only in historical context of trade.
Academic
Used in history, economics, and numismatics papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific term in numismatics for classifying coins.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The museum had an old silver taler in a glass case.
- The treaty's fine was stipulated as 10,000 silver talers, payable within a year.
- The Maria Theresa taler circulated so widely that it became a de facto trade currency in the Red Sea region.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TALLER silver dollar from old Germany.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TALER is a PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF HISTORICAL VALUE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'талер' (taler) which is a direct cognate and means the same. It is unrelated to 'талия' (waist).
Common Mistakes
- Spelling it as 'tailor' or 'taller'.
- Using it as a modern term for money.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'taler'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The English word 'dollar' is derived from 'thaler' (via Low German 'daler'). The US dollar is named after the Spanish peso de ocho or 'Spanish dollar', which itself was inspired by the thaler.
It is pronounced /ˈtɑːlə/ in British English and /ˈtɑːlər/ in American English, rhyming with 'caller'.
No. It is a historical coin and has not been in regular circulation for over a century.
Both are acceptable in English, though 'thaler' is often preferred in academic writing as it more directly reflects the original German 'Thaler'.