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Definition of kwanza

kwanza

/ˈkwɑːn.zə/
kwan · za
Plural:kwanzas
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kwanza Lexical Profile

kwanza Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The official basic unit of currency in Angola, divided into 100 lwei or cêntimos.

Example

"After arriving in Luanda, she exchanged her euros for Angolan kwanzas to pay for local transportation."

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with 'Kwanzaa', the annual African-American cultural holiday; 'kwanza' with a single 'a' strictly refers to the official currency of Angola.

• Rhymes for kwanza

• Nearby Words

kwa river
kwai muk
kwango
kwanza
kwanza river
kwilu
kyiv

Word Origin & Etymology

Introduced in 1977, the currency is named after the Kwanza (or Cuanza) River, one of the longest and most historically significant rivers in Angola.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kwanza. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kwanza
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