Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 4 down vote favorite

Some currencies like the baht (Thailand) and ringgit (malaysia) seem to be either singular or plural depending on context. As far as I know, these two countries don't use bahts or ringgits to denote more than one unit of their currency. For example:

1 baht, 100 baht; 1 ringgit, 100 ringgit.

When we want to use the plural in writing and speech, should we use bahts and ringgits or baht and ringgit?

Merriam-Webster gives the plural of baht as:

baht, also bahts;

and the plural of ringgit as :

ringgit, also ringgits.

What should I write?

share|improve this question
Even the English currency isn't always pluralised; one might say "five pound" meaning "five pounds", and one would certainly say "five quid" and not "five quids". – Brian Hooper Feb 5 '11 at 8:04
Is it possible to have both the singular and plural forms, or should there be only one? – Sky Red Feb 7 '11 at 7:57
Please don't use the form ringgits. No one uses it in Malaysia. I have 1 million Ringgit and 50 sen. Yup plural of sen is sen. – user18008 Feb 10 '12 at 18:45

4 Answers

up vote 2 down vote

Malay rarely uses any grammatical plural, especially if there is a number or quantity word associated with the noun, though reduplication is generally available if there might otherwise be ambiguity.

So it says "RM100" and "seratus ringgit" on the banknotes (seratus means hundred), and hence in Malaysian English. But if you were to say 100 ringgits, you would be understood.

Apparently Thai does not have a grammatical plural either.

share|improve this answer
Does Malay recognise ringgits? You may be understood, but is it correct to use the plural form? If it is not acceptable usage, I can imagine the titters if someone were to say "ringgits." – Sky Red Feb 7 '11 at 8:08
According to my Malaysian friend, it is technically incorrect to use the plural form "ringgits", but because so many foreigners use it, and Malaysians are too polite to correct them, it has become acceptable. Interestingly, in colloquial Malaysian English, I'm told that many Malaysians habitually use "dollars" and "bucks" instead of "ringgit". – Gilead Mar 29 '11 at 14:14
@Sky Red: The Malay language does not have ringgits; nor does Malaysian English. Most Malaysians have English as a second or third language and know the use of -s as a productive plural in English, so would understand (without tittering) if a British or American visitor said ringgits. – Henry Mar 29 '11 at 14:17
up vote 2 down vote

I've never heard anyone use an ending 's' when describing Chinese yuan, Japanese yen, or Italian lira (of course the plural for lira is lire, which sounds about the same.) I've also not heard anyone say bahts. There are other words in the English language where the singular and plural use the same words, such as moose, sheep, and deer, so there's really no reason to create a new plural word if the singular form is already acting as the plural.

share|improve this answer
Yes, you're right; I haven't heard that either. If the singular functions as the plural, why do you think M_W offers the plural form, too? Mind you, they list the singular first. – Sky Red Feb 7 '11 at 7:55
I've come across foreigners who use bahts and ringgits, and staunchly maintain that they are right because that's how it's done in their language. Is there a whiff of linguistic ethnocentrism going on here? – Sky Red Feb 7 '11 at 8:05
up vote 1 down vote

I have only ever heard/seen "100 baht", not "100 bahts". I've never dealt with ringgit.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

You've answered your own question: the dictionary says either "baht" or "bahts" works, but it gives a slight preference to "baht". Whichever you choose, be consistent.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.