Definition

Noun: 1. A unit of currency in Kuwait: The Kuwaiti dirham is a monetary unit of Kuwait. It is a subdivision of the Kuwaiti dinar, with one dirham being equal to one-tenth of a dinar. One Kuwaiti dirham is further subdivided into 100 fils.

Usage Notes

• The Kuwaiti dirham is not an independent, primary currency but a fractional unit. The primary currency of Kuwait is the Kuwaiti dinar (KWD).
• It is used for pricing smaller-value goods and services, similar to how cents are used in relation to the US dollar.
• The term "dirham" is also the name of the primary currency unit in other countries, such as the United Arab Emirates and Morocco. Therefore, specifying "Kuwaiti" dirham is important for clarity.

Examples

• The price of the newspaper is 150 Kuwaiti dirhams.
• He needed change for a one-dinar note and received ten Kuwaiti dirham coins.
• The small souvenir cost only a few Kuwaiti dirhams.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in financial contexts, such as currency exchange rates and banking, where precise fractional amounts are discussed.
• In everyday spoken language, people in Kuwait may simply refer to "dirhams" when the context is clear, understanding it refers to the local fractional currency.

Variants and Related Words

• Fils (noun): The subunit of the Kuwaiti dirham. 100 fils = 1 Kuwaiti dirham.
• Kuwaiti dinar (noun): The primary and official currency of Kuwait. 1 Kuwaiti dinar = 10 Kuwaiti dirhams.

Synonyms

• (No direct single-word synonym exists, as it is a specific proper noun for a currency unit. It can be described as a fractional currency unit of Kuwait.)

Noun

1. worth one tenth of a Kuwaiti dinar; equal 100 fils