noun
Petro
noun
1
In Haitian Vodou, a category of spirits (loa) generally seen as fierce, forceful, or combative in character.
"The drummers switched to a faster rhythm to call on the petro spirits."
2
A cryptocurrency created by the Venezuelan government in 2018, marketed as being backed by the country's oil reserves.
"The government urged citizens to trade their bolivars for petro, though few trusted the new currency."
How to Use Petro
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a fierce category of spirit in Haitian Vodou, or Venezuela's oil-backed digital currency.
Common mistake
These are two unrelated meanings that happen to share a spelling — context (religion vs. finance) makes clear which is meant.
Word Forms
Petros plural, petros plural
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The drummers switched to a faster rhythm to call on the _____ spirits.
Etymology
The Vodou sense traces to a class name of unclear African origin; the cryptocurrency sense comes from Spanish petróleo ("petroleum"), reflecting its claimed oil backing.