Benin franc
- noun
- Archaic
:
franco de Benín
- After independence, Benin stopped using the Benin franc and adopted the CFA franc.
Examples
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During my trip, I exchanged some Benin francs for euros.
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Collectors sometimes seek old Benin francs for their numismatic value.
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Before 1945, the Benin franc was the country's official currency.
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The Benin franc was replaced by the CFA franc.
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After independence, Benin stopped using the Benin franc and adopted the CFA franc.
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Before 1945, the Benin franc was the country's official currency.
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Collectors sometimes seek old Benin francs for their numismatic value.
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward composition of the country name 'Benin' and the currency noun 'franc', so the meaning 'the franc used in Benin' is directly derivable from the parts. The country+currency pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular compositional rules, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.
Etymology
Benin franc comes from joining the country name Benin with the French money word franc. So it literally names Benin's 'old money' and explains why it refers to the country's former unit of currency used before the CFA franc.
