thruppence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HistoricalInformal, historical, chiefly British
Quick answer
What does “thruppence” mean?
A British term for three pence, a small coin or amount of money in the pre-decimal currency system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A British term for three pence, a small coin or amount of money in the pre-decimal currency system.
Historically, a coin worth three old pence; figuratively, a trivial or insignificant sum of money, often used nostalgically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'thruppence' refers to three pence in pre-decimal currency; in American English, this term is not used due to different currency systems.
Connotations
British: nostalgic, quaint, historical; American: unfamiliar, archaic, or confusing.
Frequency
Common in historical British contexts, literature, and among older generations; virtually absent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “thruppence” in a Sentence
it cost [me] thruppencegive [someone] thruppencesave [up] thruppenceVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; only in historical financial discussions or antique valuations.
Academic
Found in historical texts, economic history, or linguistic studies of British English.
Everyday
Used nostalgically by older UK generations or in casual references to the past.
Technical
In numismatics, referring to specific coin types from pre-decimal Britain.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thruppence”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thruppence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thruppence”
- Misspelled as 'threepence' or 'thrupence'.
- Mispronounced with a long 'u' sound, e.g., /θruːpəns/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, thruppence is from the pre-decimal currency system (before 1971) and is no longer in circulation.
It is pronounced /ˈθrʌpəns/, with a short 'u' sound as in 'cup'.
It is not standard in American English and is generally only encountered in historical or British contexts, such as literature or films.
'Thruppence' is a colloquial or alternative spelling of 'threepence'; both mean three pence, but 'thruppence' is often used in informal speech.
A British term for three pence, a small coin or amount of money in the pre-decimal currency system.
Thruppence is usually informal, historical, chiefly british in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not worth a thruppence”
- “every thruppence counts”
- “pinch your thruppence”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
'Thruppence' sounds like 'three pence', linking directly to its meaning.
Conceptual Metaphor
Represents insignificance or triviality, often in contrasts with larger sums.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'thruppence' primarily refer to?