zairenoun
Factsheet
What does the noun zaire mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zaire. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
Entry status
OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.
How is the noun zaire pronounced?
British English
U.S. English
Where does the noun zaire come from?
Earliest known use
1960s
The earliest known use of the noun zaire is in the 1960s.
OED's earliest evidence for zaire is from 1967, in the Times (London).
From a proper name.
Etymons: proper name Zaïre.
Nearby entries
- zafu, n.1965–
- zag, n., adv., & v.1793–
- zagaie | zagaye, n.1590–1698
- Zaghlulist, n. & adj.1921–
- zaguan, n.1851–
- Zahal, n.1959–
- zaibatsu, n.1937–
- Zaidi, n.1709–
- zaikai, n.1968–
- zaim, n.1807–
- zaire, n.1967–
- Zairean, n. & adj.1972–
- Zairese, adj. & n.1974–
- Zairois, n. & adj.1973–
- zaitech, n.1986–
- zakat, n.1668–
- Zakka Khel, n.1860–
- zakuska, n.1885–
- zalambdodont, adj.1885–
- zalcitabine, n.1991–
- zamacueca, n.1855–
Etymology
Summary
Meaning & use
- 1967–The basic monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of the Republic of Zaire (1971–97); a coin of this value, equal to 100 makuta (see likuta n.).In 1997 the zaire was replaced by the franc when the country reverted to being called the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- 1967
They tried to recruit former Katangese gendarmes... They offered seven zaires (£5) to every man who enlisted.
Times 9 November 6 - 1971
The monetary unit [of the Democratic Republic of the Congo] is the Zaire (Z.) divided into 100 makuta (K.) each worth two American cents. ‘Makuta’ is the plural form of the word ‘likuta’. One Z. equals two U.S. dollars.
New York Times 27 June 5 - 1972
The Zaire is divided into 100 Makuta and the Likuta (the singular of Makuta) in turn consists of 100 Sengi.
Times 6 December (Europe & Third World Supplement) p. iii/2 (advertisement) - 1976
A bribe... Five thousand zaire—ten thousand dollars.
L. Sanders, Hamlet Warning (1977) xvi. 133
society trade and finance money standards and values of currencies [nouns] specific monetary units or units of account other specific African- macute1704–In the Guinea Coast and Angola: a monetary unit used in trade between Europeans and local peoples, and thought to be developed from a native currency…
- pesewa1963–A monetary unit of Ghana, introduced in 1965 and equivalent to one hundredth of a cedi.
- leone1964–The principal unit of currency in Sierra Leone; a banknote of the value of one leone.
- cedi1965–The basic monetary unit of Ghana, equivalent to 100 pesewas.
- kwacha1966–The principal monetary unit in Zambia, equivalent to 100 ngwees, and in Malawi, equivalent to 100 tambalas. Also: a coin or banknote of this…
- likuta1967–A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequently Zaire, introduced in 1967, equivalent to one-hundredth of a zaire…
- makuta1967–= likuta, n.
- sengi1967–A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1967–71) and subsequently Zaire (1971–97), with a value of one-hundredth of a…
- zaire1967–The basic monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of the Republic of Zaire (1971–97); a coin of this value, equal to 100…
- tambala1969–A monetary unit of Malawi, introduced in 1971, and equivalent to one-hundredth of a kwacha. Also: a coin of this value.
- kobo1972–A monetary unit of Nigeria equal to […] of a naira (naira, n. 1).
- naira1972–The principal monetary unit of Nigeria, introduced in 1973 and consisting of 100 kobo.
- lilangeni1974–The basic monetary unit of the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), equal to 100 cents; also, a coin or note of this value.
- birr1976–The unit of currency in Ethiopia, consisting of 100 cents, which replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976; a note or coin of this value.
- thebe1976–A currency unit in Botswana, equal to […] of a pula, n. (sense 2). Also, a coin of this value.
- lwei1977–A monetary unit of Angola, equal to one-hundredth of a kwanza.
- maloti1977–= loti, n.
- loti1979–The basic monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to 100 lisente; (also) a note or coin of this value. Cf. maloti, n.
- metical1980–The principal monetary unit of Mozambique, introduced in 1980, and consisting of 100 centavos.
- sente1980–Since 1980, a monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to one-hundredth of a loti; also, a coin of this value.
society trade and finance money medium of exchange or currency coins collective coins of other specific regions and countries [nouns] African coins- Morisk1525A gold coin issued by the Moorish rulers of North Africa and Spain, a double dinar weighing about 4.5 grams; (also) a Spanish coin resembling this…
- tickey1868–In the pre-decimal currency of South Africa and the preceding British colonies of southern Africa: a small silver threepenny piece. Also (usually…
- ngwee1966–A monetary unit of Zambia, introduced in 1968 and equivalent to one-hundredth of a kwacha.
- Kruger rand1967–A South African gold coin bearing a portrait of President Kruger.
- likuta1967–A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequently Zaire, introduced in 1967, equivalent to one-hundredth of a zaire…
- sengi1967–A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1967–71) and subsequently Zaire (1971–97), with a value of one-hundredth of a…
- zaire1967–The basic monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and of the Republic of Zaire (1971–97); a coin of this value, equal to 100…
- kobo1972–A coin with the value of one kobo (sense 1). Also in extended use: a very small amount (of money); usually in negative constructions, as in not a kobo…
- naira1972–A coin (formerly also a banknote) with the value of one naira.
- lilangeni1974–The basic monetary unit of the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), equal to 100 cents; also, a coin or note of this value.
- birr1976–The unit of currency in Ethiopia, consisting of 100 cents, which replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976; a note or coin of this value.
- kwanza1977–The basic monetary unit of Angola, equal to 100 lweis, introduced in 1977; also, a note or coin of this value.
- loti1979–The basic monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to 100 lisente; (also) a note or coin of this value. Cf. maloti, n.
- sente1980–Since 1980, a monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to one-hundredth of a loti; also, a coin of this value.
Pronunciation
British English
U.S. English
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Consonants
- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing
* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in
Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence
Vowels
- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)
Other symbols
- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.
View the pronunciation model here.
Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.
Consonants
b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values
- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige
Vowels
- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot