leone

leone — noun

1. a country on the west coast of Africa, officially named Sierra Leone; the name i

1.nounB2
Definition

a country on the west coast of Africa, officially named Sierra Leone; the name is sometimes shortened to 'Leone' in informal or journalistic use, especially when the context makes the reference clear.

Example

Christopher spent three years working as a teacher in Leone before moving to Ghana.

short form of Sierra Leone in context

The civil war in Leone during the 1990s displaced millions of people.

Common collocations
  • in Leone
  • from Leone
  • the people of Leone
  • the government of Leone
Synonyms
  • Sierra Leone

    the full, official name; always preferred in formal contexts

Grammar Patterns

the Leone

in/from Leone

Usage Note

This shortened form is much less common than the full name 'Sierra Leone'. Learners should use 'Sierra Leone' in formal writing and speech.

2. the official currency of Sierra Leone; one leone is made up of one hundred cents

2.nounC1
Definition

the official currency of Sierra Leone; one leone is made up of one hundred cents, though high inflation means cent coins are rarely seen in daily use.

Example

Ilan exchanged fifty dollars for about five hundred thousand leones at the bank in Freetown.

countable: leones (plural form)

The market vendor asked for two thousand leones for a bag of rice.

used with numbers in everyday transactions

Common collocations
  • Sierra Leonean leone
  • thousands of leones
  • leone note
  • leone coin
  • leone banknote

Grammar Patterns

number + leone(s)

leone note/coin

Usage Note

The plural form is either 'leone' or 'leones', with 'leone' being more common in everyday Sierra Leonean English. Because of high inflation, prices are typically quoted in thousands of leones.

Common Mistakes

⚠️ 'leones' (e.g. 'five hundred thousand leones') is the standard international written plural, while 'leone' as a plural ('two thousand leone') is common in everyday Sierra Leonean speech. Both are acceptable; choose based on context.

Word family

  • Sierra Leone
    proper nounB1
  • Sierra Leonean
    adjectiveB2
  • Sierra Leonean
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The word 'Leone' is used only as a very informal shortening of 'Sierra Leone', mostly in newspaper headlines or casual speech among people familiar with the country. 'Sierra Leone' is the full, official name and should be used in all formal writing, academic work, and most everyday conversation. Unlike 'Leone' (which may confuse listeners who think you mean the currency), 'Sierra Leone' is internationally recognised as the name of the West African nation. For example, a news headline might read 'Leone votes in presidential election', but a student writing a report should write 'Sierra Leone held its presidential election in June.'

Leone ↗Sierra Leone

Etymology

PortugueseEnglish

The name 'Sierra Leone' comes from Portuguese 'Serra Leoa', meaning 'Lion Mountains'. The shortened form 'Leone' was later derived from this, and the currency took its name from the country. The leone was introduced in 1964, replacing the British West African pound when Sierra Leone gained independence.