zaire, n.

zaire
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zaire_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1986; not fully revised

# zairenoun

## Earlier version

- zaire in OED Second Edition (1989)

## 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

/(ˌ)zʌɪˈɪə/
zigh-EER
/(ˌ)zɑːˈɪə/
zah-EER

#### U.S. English

/ˌzɑˈɪ(ə)r/
zah-EER

### 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

1. zafu, n. 1965–
2. zag, n., adv., & v. 1793–
3. zagaie | zagaye, n. 1590–1698
4. Zaghlulist, n. & adj. 1921–
5. zaguan, n. 1851–
6. Zahal, n. 1959–
7. zaibatsu, n. 1937–
8. Zaidi, n. 1709–
9. zaikai, n. 1968–
10. zaim, n. 1807–
11. zaire, n.1967–
12. Zairean, n. & adj. 1972–
13. Zairese, adj. & n. 1974–
14. Zairois, n. & adj. 1973–
15. zaitech, n. 1986–
16. zakat, n. 1668–
17. Zakka Khel, n. 1860–
18. zakuska, n. 1885–
19. zalambdodont, adj. 1885–
20. zalcitabine, n. 1991–
21. zamacueca, n. 1855–

## Etymology

### Summary

From a proper name.
Etymon: proper name Zaïre.
< Zaïre, local name of the Congo River in Central Africa.

## Meaning & use

1. 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.
   1. 1967

      > They tried to recruit former Katangese gendarmes... They offered seven zaires (£5) to every man who enlisted.

      Times 9 November 6
   2. 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
   3. 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)
   4. 1976

      > A bribe... Five thousand zaire—ten thousand dollars.

      L. Sanders, Hamlet Warning (1977) xvi. 133
   coins and banknotes economics and commerce
   1. macute 1704–
      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…
   2. pesewa 1963–
      A monetary unit of Ghana, introduced in 1965 and equivalent to one hundredth of a cedi.
   3. leone 1964–
      The principal unit of currency in Sierra Leone; a banknote of the value of one leone.
   4. cedi 1965–
      The basic monetary unit of Ghana, equivalent to 100 pesewas.
   5. kwacha 1966–
      The principal monetary unit in Zambia, equivalent to 100 ngwees, and in Malawi, equivalent to 100 tambalas. Also: a coin or banknote of this…
   6. likuta 1967–
      A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequently Zaire, introduced in 1967, equivalent to one-hundredth of a zaire…
   7. makuta 1967–
      = likuta, n.
   8. sengi 1967–
      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…
   9. zaire 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…
   10. tambala 1969–
       A monetary unit of Malawi, introduced in 1971, and equivalent to one-hundredth of a kwacha. Also: a coin of this value.
   11. kobo 1972–
       A monetary unit of Nigeria equal to […] of a naira (naira, n. 1).
   12. naira 1972–
       The principal monetary unit of Nigeria, introduced in 1973 and consisting of 100 kobo.
   13. lilangeni 1974–
       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.
   14. birr 1976–
       The unit of currency in Ethiopia, consisting of 100 cents, which replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976; a note or coin of this value.
   15. thebe 1976–
       A currency unit in Botswana, equal to […] of a pula, n. (sense 2). Also, a coin of this value.
   16. lwei 1977–
       A monetary unit of Angola, equal to one-hundredth of a kwanza.
   17. maloti 1977–
       = loti, n.
   18. loti 1979–
       The basic monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to 100 lisente; (also) a note or coin of this value. Cf. maloti, n.
   19. metical 1980–
       The principal monetary unit of Mozambique, introduced in 1980, and consisting of 100 centavos.
   20. sente 1980–
       Since 1980, a monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to one-hundredth of a loti; also, a coin of this value.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
   1. Morisk 1525
      A 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…
   2. tickey 1868–
      In the pre-decimal currency of South Africa and the preceding British colonies of southern Africa: a small silver threepenny piece. Also (usually…
   3. ngwee 1966–
      A monetary unit of Zambia, introduced in 1968 and equivalent to one-hundredth of a kwacha.
   4. Kruger rand 1967–
      A South African gold coin bearing a portrait of President Kruger.
   5. likuta 1967–
      A former monetary unit of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and subsequently Zaire, introduced in 1967, equivalent to one-hundredth of a zaire…
   6. sengi 1967–
      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…
   7. zaire 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…
   8. kobo 1972–
      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…
   9. naira 1972–
      A coin (formerly also a banknote) with the value of one naira.
   10. lilangeni 1974–
       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.
   11. birr 1976–
       The unit of currency in Ethiopia, consisting of 100 cents, which replaced the Ethiopian dollar in 1976; a note or coin of this value.
   12. kwanza 1977–
       The basic monetary unit of Angola, equal to 100 lweis, introduced in 1977; also, a note or coin of this value.
   13. loti 1979–
       The basic monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to 100 lisente; (also) a note or coin of this value. Cf. maloti, n.
   14. sente 1980–
       Since 1980, a monetary unit of Lesotho, equal to one-hundredth of a loti; also, a coin of this value.
   View in Historical Thesaurus

## Pronunciation

### British English

/(ˌ)zʌɪˈɪə/
zigh-EER
/(ˌ)zɑːˈɪə/
zah-EER

### U.S. English

/ˌzɑˈɪ(ə)r/
zah-EER

####

##### 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 /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### 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 /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### 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

zaire, n. was first published in 1986; not fully revised.

zaire, n. was last modified in July 2023.