What does dalasi mean?
The dalasi is the official currency of The Gambia, a small West African nation, where it serves as the standard unit of money and is subdivided into 100 smaller units called bututs. Introduced in 1971, it replaced the Gambian pound as the country moved away from its colonial-era monetary system after independence. In practice, the word appears most often in contexts involving travel, trade, or economics: prices at markets in Banjul, exchange rates reported by financial news outlets, or remittances sent home by members of the Gambian diaspora. Outside West Africa it is rarely encountered in casual speech, but it remains an important term for anyone dealing with Gambian commerce, tourism, or development work. Like many national currencies, the dalasi's value fluctuates against major currencies such as the US dollar and the euro, and its name carries a distinctly regional identity tied to Gambian economic life.
nounThe basic monetary unit of The Gambia, equal to 100 bututs. It was introduced in 1971, replacing the Gambian pound.
- The standard unit of currency of The Gambia, subdivided into 100 bututs.
"A bowl of fresh groundnut stew cost her just a few dalasi at the market in Banjul."
"The tour guide quoted a price of five hundred dalasi for the river trip."
"After independence-era reforms, the dalasi replaced the Gambian pound in 1971."
Both invariant 'dalasi' and pluralized 'dalasis' are attested; the invariant form is common in financial reporting, while 'dalasis' appears more frequently in general prose.
"The hotel bill came to three thousand dalasi."
The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries, and its dalasi — worth just 100 bututs — replaced British pounds only in 1971, making it one of the continent's younger currencies.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dalasi
The word 'dalasi' derives from Wolof, a widely spoken language in West Africa, reflecting the Gambia's deep linguistic ties with neighbouring Senegal. It was adopted as the name of the Gambian national currency when the dalasi was introduced in 1971, replacing the previously used Gambian pound. Its use signals the broader post-colonial movement across Africa toward currencies rooted in local languages rather than colonial legacies.
How dalasi is actually used
Dalasi functions as a proper noun-like currency name used internationally; it appears mainly in financial, travel, and economic contexts rather than everyday English conversation outside West Africa.
Easily confused with dalasi
The dalasi is the currency of The Gambia, whereas the kwanza is the currency of Angola — both are African monetary units but entirely distinct.