Word
naira
US/ˈnɛɹə/
UK/nˈeəɹɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the money used in Nigeria. One naira is divided into 100 smaller units called kobo.
n. the official currency of Nigeria, divided into 100 kobo and represented by the symbol ₦.
Examples
“The shop lists all prices in naira.”
“She exchanged dollars for naira at the airport before taking a taxi into the city.”
“After the central bank redesigned the notes, traders struggled to get enough naira in cash for daily business.”
Examples
simple
“The shop lists all prices in naira.”
contextual
“She exchanged dollars for naira at the airport before taking a taxi into the city.”
complex
“After the central bank redesigned the notes, traders struggled to get enough naira in cash for daily business.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “naira” in context.
Verb
01. defend naira
“The bank spent reserves to defend the naira last month.”
verb + noun
02. devalue naira
“The central bank decided to devalue the naira to boost exports.”
verb + noun
03. exchange naira
“You can exchange naira for dollars at the airport.”
verb + noun
04. naira falls
“The naira fell sharply against the dollar last week.”
noun + verb
05. naira strengthens
“The naira strengthened after the rise in oil prices.”
noun + verb
06. naira weakens
“The naira weakened again on the parallel market.”
noun + verb
Noun
07. million naira
“The car costs more than five million naira.”
number + noun
08. naira coin
“Naira coins are rarely used in daily transactions.”
noun + noun
09. naira note
“He paid the driver with a crumpled naira note.”
noun + noun
10. devaluation of the naira
“The devaluation of the naira raised the cost of imports.”
11. exchange dollars for naira
“I exchanged dollars for naira at the bank in Lagos.”
12. naira fell against the dollar
“The naira fell against the dollar for the third week.”
Real-World Examples
“Petrol prices have risen to about 1,400 naira ($1.05) a litre in Lagos and Abuja this month from roughly 1,200 naira a month earlier, Reuters checks showed, while some stations in northern Nigeria charged as much as 1,500 naira.” “Nigeria's central bank has been under pressure to stabilise the national currency, the naira, which currently exchanges at 1,595 naira to US$1, compared to about 460 a year ago.” “Nigeria's naira is expected to lose around a third of its value when market trading begins on Monday, bringing to an end the central bank's much-criticised fixed exchange rate system.” “Nigeria's naira fell 2.5 percent on Friday, despite central bank intervention, and it briefly touched a record low on concerns OPEC's decision not to cut oil output would put further pressure on Nigeria's shaky finances.” Etymology
A contraction of Nigeria, coined by Federal Commissioner for Finance Obafemi Awolowo.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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