# Louis

/ˈɫui/ (US) · /lˈuːi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/louis
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical French coin

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a gold or silver coin used in France a long time ago, named after the French kings.

For teachers: A French gold or silver coin issued between 1640 and 1793, typically bearing the image of the reigning monarch.

- The traveler paid for his meal with a single gold louis.
- In the historical novel, the protagonist discovers a hidden pouch containing several gold louis and a map of the palace grounds.

Usage: Usually refers to the gold 'louis d'or' in historical literature.

Teaching tip: This term is almost exclusively found in historical novels or academic texts about pre-revolutionary France.

## Examples

- The museum displays a rare gold Louis from the seventeenth century.
- While digging in the garden, the homeowner discovered a small jar containing several gold Louis coins.
- The transition from the Louis to the decimal-based franc marked a significant shift in the French monetary system following the revolution.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.