noun

balboa

bal-BOH-uh

Balboa (noun) means Panama's official currency, split into 100 centésimos and pegged 1:1 with the US dollar. Example: “Prices in Panama City are often shown in both balboas and dollars.”

noun

Panama's official currency, split into 100 centésimos and pegged 1:1 with the US dollar.

"Prices in Panama City are often shown in both balboas and dollars."

"He paid the taxi fare in balboa coins."

How to use balboa

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe unit of money used in Panama, worth the same as one US dollar.

Common pairings

paid in balboas the Panamanian balboa

Word forms

balboas plural, Balboas plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Prices in Panama City are often shown in both _____ and dollars.

Etymology

Named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who led the first European expedition to reach the Pacific from the Americas.

Origin: Spanish

Rhymes for balboa

OA DOA LOA POA Goa boa toa Noa hoa Foa whoa Samoa

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Frequently asked questions

What does “balboa” mean?

The word “balboa” means panama's official currency, split into 100 centésimos and pegged 1:1 with the US dollar. In plain terms, the unit of money used in Panama, worth the same as one US dollar.

How do you pronounce “balboa”?

“Balboa” is pronounced bal-BOH-uh (/bælˈbəʊə/ in IPA).

How do you use “balboa” in a sentence?

Here is “balboa” used in a sentence: “Prices in Panama City are often shown in both balboas and dollars.”

What part of speech is “balboa”?

“Balboa” is a noun.

Where does the word “balboa” come from?

The word “balboa” comes from Spanish. Named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who led the first European expedition to reach the Pacific from the Americas.

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Vocabulary lists that include balboa:

Words with Spanish origins