noun

sen

sehn

noun

A small unit of currency in several Asian countries, worth one hundredth of the main unit — for example, one hundredth of a Japanese yen, an Indonesian rupiah, or a Malaysian ringgit.

"The vending machine only accepted coins, and he needed a hundred sen to make one yen."

"Prices in the old market were sometimes listed down to the last sen."

How to Use Sen

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small coin or currency unit, like a cent, used in Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Common mistake

Don't confuse this currency term with the surname Sen, which comes from a completely different, unrelated source.

Word Forms

sens plural, sen plural, sens plural, sen plural, sens plural, sen plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The vending machine only accepted coins, and he needed a hundred _____ to make one yen.

Etymology

Adapted from the Japanese and Malay use of "sen" for a subunit of currency, itself influenced by the English word "cent."

Rhymes for sen

risen Essen rosen Olsen Ibsen chosen worsen Bunsen loosen lessen Jensen Hansen

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