What does cruzeiro mean?
The cruzeiro was the official monetary unit of Brazil for much of the twentieth century, introduced in 1942 and equal to one hundred centavos. Its name comes from Portuguese, meaning 'Southern Cross', after the constellation that features on the Brazilian flag. Because chronic inflation eroded its purchasing power, the cruzeiro was reissued in altered forms — including the new cruzeiro of 1967 and the cruzeiro again in 1990 — before finally being replaced by the real in 1993. Today the term survives chiefly in historical writing, economic analysis, and coin collecting, where references to prices 'in cruzeiros' evoke an era of dramatic monetary change. For readers encountering it in older texts or news archives, understanding that amounts quoted in cruzeiros reflect a long-vanished currency is essential to interpreting their value correctly.
nounA former monetary unit of Brazil, equal to one hundred centavos, used from 1942 to 1993 in several successive issues before being replaced by other currencies.
- A former monetary unit of Brazil, worth one hundred centavos, in circulation in several issues between 1942 and 1993.
"The price of coffee was listed at two hundred cruzeiros a kilo."
"In 1965 a cup of coffee cost only a few cruzeiros."
"Collectors prize the old cruzeiro banknotes for their vivid portraits of Brazilian historical figures."
Standard pluralization applies; amounts are conventionally expressed in the plural form.
"Tickets to the match cost five hundred cruzeiros."
Named after the Southern Cross constellation shining over Brazil's flag, the cruzeiro was reissued three separate times as hyperinflation repeatedly wiped out its value.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cruzeiro
The word cruzeiro comes from Portuguese, where it originally denoted the Southern Cross constellation (literally 'large cross'), which appears on the Brazilian flag. It derives ultimately from Latin crux, meaning 'cross', making it cognate with English words such as cross, crucifix, and crusade. The name was chosen for Brazil's currency when it was introduced in 1942, replacing the mil-réis.
How cruzeiro is actually used
The word appears mainly in historical, economic, and numismatic contexts, since the cruzeiro is no longer legal tender; it is always treated as a countable noun, typically in the plural when referring to amounts of money.
Easily confused with cruzeiro
The cruzado was the Brazilian currency that replaced the cruzeiro in 1986 and lasted until 1989, whereas the cruzeiro refers to the earlier and later Brazilian monetary units.
A cruise is a sea voyage or leisure trip aboard a ship, while a cruzeiro is a former unit of Brazilian currency.