rand, monetary unit of South Africa. Each rand is divided into 100 cents. The South African Reserve Bank has the exclusive authority to issue coins and banknotes in the country. Coins range in denomination from 5 cents to 50 rand. Banknotes are denominated in values from 10 to 200 rand. During the apartheid era, when the country’s white-minority regime ruled through restrictive legislation, banknotes contained historical figures associated with that regime. Since the peaceful transition to full democratic rule in the early 1990s, banknotes have been adorned with colourful images of wildlife; they include the rhinoceros (10-rand note), elephant (20-rand note), lion (50-rand note), buffalo (100-rand note), and leopard (200-rand note). In 2012 a portrait of Nelson Mandela was added to banknotes, with animals appearing on the reverse side. The country’s coins, which contain images of plant and animal life, feature the use of South Africa’s various languages to render the country’s name. South Africa used the British pound sterling until 1921, when the South African pound was introduced. South Africa adopted the rand in 1961; it replaced the pound at a rate of 2 rand for 1 pound.
FAQs
What is the meaning of rand? ›
Definitions of rand. noun. the basic unit of money in South Africa; equal to 100 cents. type of: South African monetary unit.
What is a rand in English slang? ›British Dialect. a strip or long slice. a border or margin.
Is the word rand a proper noun? ›Yes, “rand” (the currency) is a noun, and it is a common noun (not capitalized) even though its name derives from Witwatersrand, a truly unique geological formation in South Africa. The South African rand is currently equivalent to about $0.72 USD.
What is the plural of rand? ›Answer. The plural form of rand is rands. Find more words! Another word for. Opposite of.
What does rand stand for? ›Douglas engineer Arthur Emmons Raymond came up with the name Project RAND, from "research and development". Collbohm suggested that he himself should serve as the project's first director, which he thought would be a temporary position while he searched for a permanent replacement for himself.
What is the meaning of rand money? ›The South African rand is made up of 100 cents and is often presented with the symbol R. The rand comes from the word "Witwatersrand," which means "white waters ridge." Johannesburg, the location of a majority of South Africa's gold deposits, is located on this ridge.
What is rand short for? ›The RAND name originated as a contraction of research and development.
What kind of money is a rand? ›The South African rand (ZAR) is the currency of South Africa and is issued by the South African Reserve Bank. The South African rand has the symbol R. It is subdivided into 100 cents.
What's a rand to a dollar? ›| Conversion rates South African Rand / US Dollar | |
|---|---|
| 1 ZAR | 0.05463 USD |
| 5 ZAR | 0.27313 USD |
| 10 ZAR | 0.54627 USD |
| 20 ZAR | 1.09253 USD |
Someone who is randy is sexually excited and eager to have sex. [British, informal] It was extremely hot and I was feeling rather randy.
What is rand in Old English? ›
From Middle English rand, from Old English rand (“edge, border, margin, rim, shore”), from Proto-Germanic *randaz, *randō (“edge, rim, crust”), from Proto-Indo-European *rem- (“to rest, prop or support oneself”).
Where does the term rand come from? ›The rand takes its name from the Witwatersrand ("white waters' ridge" in English, rand being the Afrikaans (and Dutch) word for 'ridge'), the ridge upon which Johannesburg is built and where most of South Africa's gold deposits were found.
What do you mean by rand? ›The rand is the unit of currency used in South Africa. ... 12 million rand. The rand is also used to refer to the South African currency system. The rand slumped by 22% against the dollar.
How do you say banana in plural? ›The most appropriate plural form is Bananas.
What is the English word rand? ›rand in British English
(rænd , rɒnt ) noun. the standard monetary unit of the Republic of South Africa, divided into 100 cents. Word origin. C20: from Afrikaans, shortened from Witwatersrand, referring to the gold-mining there; related to rand2.
From Middle English rand, from Old English rand (“edge, border, margin, rim, shore”), from Proto-Germanic *randaz, *randō (“edge, rim, crust”), from Proto-Indo-European *rem- (“to rest, prop or support oneself”).
Why is it called rand? ›South Africa continued to use the British coin system until 1961 when South Africa gained independence and became a republic. This was the beginning of the South African rand, which takes its name from the Witwatersrand where gold was discovered. On 14 February 1961, the rand, replaced the pound.