rand

Everyday

1. The rand is the money of South Africa; one rand is made of 100 cents. Its symbol is R, and its code is ZAR. tree →
2. The Rand (short for the Witwatersrand) is an area of ridges around Johannesburg, famous for gold mines. tree →
3. (rare) A rand is a strip of leather in a shoe. tree →

In the lessons

In maths lessons on money and exchange rates the rand appears with other currencies. In geography it links South Africa with its gold mines. Phrases: «ten rand», «the South African rand», «R50».

Examples

• In South Africa, a loaf of bread costs a few rand. tree →
• The rand is divided into 100 cents. tree →
• Prices in Cape Town are written with R, as in R25. tree →
• Gold was found on the Rand long ago, and Johannesburg grew up around the mines. tree →
• If 1 pound buys 20 rand, then 5 pounds buy 100 rand. tree →
• She changed her dollars into rand at the airport. tree →
• The coin had a springbok on it. tree →

Note

Plural is often «rand» (ten rand), though «rands» is also used. Currency name: lower case «rand»; the region: capital «Rand». Do not confuse with «random» or «Rand» as a surname. In money problems, convert using the rate given: multiply or divide as the problem says.