monnaie

currency

noun mo-NEH Less Common

Origin: Latin moneta, 'mint'

Also means

change (coins)

Usage Note

Monnaie covers both a country's currency (la monnaie unique) and physical coins or small change (rendre la monnaie = 'give change'). It differs from argent ('money' in general) and billet ('banknote'). Petite monnaie means loose change; fausse monnaie means counterfeit currency.

Examples

"Avez-vous de la monnaie pour le bus ?"

Natural Translation

Do you have change for the bus?

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