Re:How Fake Money Saved Brazil
by wmf on Monday October 04, 2010 @08:00PM
(#1758075)
I would assume that the Brazilian real is named after the Portuguese real which does mean "royal". It is an odd name in a democratic country, though.
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Re:How Fake Money Saved Brazil
by sportsTAKES on Monday October 04, 2010 @09:07PM
(#1758205)
You are correct that 'real' means royal but it also means true or authentic (similarly in English).
I think that probably more accurately describes their intention behind the meaning of the name.
When I lived in Brazil in the 1990's, shortly after the currency changed from Cruzeiros to reais, the exchange rate was around 1.5. Today, it's 1.69 - there have been some relatively mild fluctuations since then but it has stayed remarkably stable.
You're right when you think about it - royal does have a double meaning of 'real' - as in 'what a royal pain in the ass'.
Not totally odd considering Brazil started out as an Empire (after independence).
Exactly - Brazil's history and relationship with Portugal bear little resemblance to the USA's relationship with the UK. Brazilians in general are, if not proud, then at least amused by their country's royal history, and most major Brazilian cities have streets named after famous royals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Empire_of_Brazil...