leu

Leu is a term that can refer to several different concepts in finance, language, and science, depending on the context. It is most commonly encountered as the name of a currency unit in Romania, but it also appears as the three-letter abbreviation for leucine, an essential amino acid, and as the Romanian word for lion.

Leu as a currency: The leu is the unit of currency used in Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani, and the plural form is lei while the singular is leu. The modern currency code is RON. The name leu derives from the Romanian word for lion, a symbol historically associated with the currency. In 2005, Romania redenominated its currency, replacing the old leu (ROL) with the new leu (RON) at a rate of 10,000 old lei to 1 new leu, a reform intended to simplify monetary accounting and pricing.

Leu as leucine: In biochemistry, Leu is the three-letter abbreviation for leucine, one of the 20 standard amino acids. It is an essential amino acid, meaning the human body cannot synthesize it and must obtain it from the diet. Leucine is one of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), along with isoleucine and valine. It plays a critical role in initiating protein synthesis and can influence metabolic pathways such as mTOR. Dietary sources include meat, dairy products, eggs, and some plant-based proteins.

Leu in language: In Romanian, leu means lion. This linguistic meaning underpins the cultural and historical use of the term in the country, including its selection as the basis for the currency name.