dollár

Dollár is the Hungarian word for the dollar, the name of currencies used in several countries. In Hungarian texts, dollár most often refers to the United States dollar (USD), but it can also denote other currencies officially named dollars, such as the Canadian, Australian, or Hong Kong dollar, depending on the context.

Etymology and use in language: The term dollar traces back to the early modern German Thaler, a silver coin that influenced many currencies in Europe. Through Dutch and English usage, the word spread to many languages, including Hungarian, which adopted the form dollár. In contemporary Hungarian, the phrase amerikai dollár explicitly identifies the U.S. dollar when needed.

Currencies and structure: Several countries use a currency named dollar. Major examples include the United States dollar (USD), Canadian dollar (CAD), Australian dollar (AUD), New Zealand dollar (NZD), Singapore dollar (SGD), and Hong Kong dollar (HKD). Some territories also use dollar variants, such as the Bahamian dollar (BSD). Most dollar currencies are decimal models, with 100 subunits per dollar (commonly called cents). The symbol is the dollar sign, and international codes follow ISO 4217 (e.g., USD, CAD, AUD).

Economic role: The United States dollar has been the world’s primary reserve currency since the mid-20th century and is widely used in international trade and finance. It serves as a benchmark for pricing commodities and as a reference for many financial contracts. Exchange rates for dollars are determined by global markets and monetary policy, and the dollar's prominence influences monetary systems around the world.

In Hungarian usage, dollár commonly denotes the general currency unit dollar, while specific contexts may specify amerikai dollár to indicate the U.S. dollar.