lempira

[lem-peer-uh]

noun

1. a paper money and monetary unit of Honduras, equal to 100 centavos. L.

lempira

/ lɛmˈpɪərə /

noun

1. the standard monetary unit of Honduras, divided into 100 centavos

Word History and Origins

Origin of lempira¹

First recorded in 1930–35; from Latin American Spanish; named after Lempira (1497–1537), a war chief of the Lenca people of western Honduras, who was killed fighting the Spanish conquistadors in 1537

Word History and Origins

Origin of lempira¹

American Spanish, after Lempira, Indian chief who opposed the Spanish

Example Sentences

The young family survived on Noel Ladino’s precarious salary of 100 lempiras a day, the equivalent of $4, when he could find work, which is scarce in the area, Garcia said.

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They say his wife also had 10 bank accounts with roughly 2.7 million lempiras, or $110,000, for which the origin couldn’t be traced.

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A local policeman showed up at her door one night and demanded weekly protection payment of 1,500 lempiras, about $60.

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When she heard of the caravan forming in San Pedro Sula just 50 miles away, Mejia borrowed 500 lempiras from a friend, packed her daughter’s backpack and boarded a bus to the capital.

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Isaac borrowed 200 Honduran lempiras — about $8 — from his boss, a vegetable vendor.

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