Meaning of karbovanets | Babel Free

Definitions

The monetary unit of Ukraine from 1917 to 1920, 1942 to 1945, and 1991 to 1996.

Equivalents

Examples

“The Central Powers secured the transfer⟳ to themselves of 1,600,000,000 karbovantsi (Ukrainian rubles), which were being printed in Berlin, and in return⟳ placed at the disposal of the Ukrainian Government marks and crowns at the rate of 0.85 karbovanets for the mark⟳ and 0.50 karbovanets for the crown (krone), but this money was not to be used by the Ukrainers for the purchase⟳ of goods in Germany and Austria until a year after the conclusion of a general peace.”

“According to Semen Yakovich (about him you will learn⟳ later) Ivan Ivanovich is an exemplary member of such and such a board⟳, or of such and such a trust⟳. It is true that his salary is two hundred and fifty karbovantsi, but one can speak⟳ of this amount only when one does not count⟳ such various small items as overtime pay⟳ and the regular honorarium which he receives from the local press⟳ for writing articles that are not exactly original.”

“The front side of a 1917 bill for 100 karbovantsiv, written in the Ukrainian language”

“According to the official fixed exchange⟳ rate karbovanets was overvalued in Ukraine. […] Goods were sold for karbovantsi rather than for rubles.”

“(Hyperinflation) In September 1995 a dollar bought 50,000 karbovantsiv (the Ukranian^([sic]) currency unit). One month later it bought 135,000. (Small bank note⟳ denominations like⟳ 100 karbovantsiv were being recycled into toilet paper.) Express⟳ the equivalent effective annual inflation rate if that monthly rate of inflation kept up for a whole year.”

“She was learning to cut⟳ hair, self-taught with the guidance of a friend in the local town, and charged just a couple of hundred karbovantsiv, the equivalent of fifty pence, to cut⟳ hair in the homes of her friends. […] “One hundred karbovantsiv.” A mere twenty five pence, but she blushed at the prospect of our transaction. / “Thank⟳ you.” I curled a thousand note⟳ into my fist and pressed it into her hand. “Sorry I have⟳ no change⟳.””

CEFR level