ENGLISH
REFERENCE

franc

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈfɹæŋk// UK //fɹˈɑːnk// franc

n. the basic unit of money used in some French-speaking countries, like Switzerland. It was also the money used in France before they started using the euro.

n. the primary unit of currency in several countries, most notably Switzerland and various nations in Africa. Historically, it served as the national currency of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg prior to the adoption of the euro.


SIMPLE

The price of the watch is five hundred Swiss francs.

CONTEXTUAL

While traveling through the Alps, we had to exchange our euros for Swiss francs to pay for the mountain cable car.

COMPLEX

The stability of the Swiss franc often leads investors to treat it as a safe-haven currency during periods of global economic volatility or geopolitical uncertainty.

Origin

Borrowed from French franc. Doublet of Frank, frank, and farang.

Usage

Often abbreviated as 'Fr.' or 'CHF' in financial contexts.

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