French word

sou

Pronunciation

IPA/su/

Meaning

  • masculine nounsmall change

Example

Il n'a plus un sou.

He does not have any small change left.

Illustration for sou (small change)

More examples

Elle met chaque sou de côté pour ses vacances.

She sets every penny aside for her vacation.

Core concept

A single small coin left in a palm, standing for almost no money.

Common phrases

  • un sou

    a penny

  • compter ses sous

    count one's pennies

  • ne vaut pas un sou

    not worth a penny

Similar words

pièce: A single metal coin.
monnaie: Coins or change used for making payments.
centime: A monetary unit equal to one hundredth of a currency unit.
argent: Money in general used for making payments.

Definition in French

Pièce ou petite somme d'argent de peu de valeur; au figuré, une quantité négligeable d'argent.

Word origin

Sou comes from Latin solidus through Old French sol, first naming a coin before referring to a small amount of money.

Usage tips

  • In ne plus un sou, sou means any money at all, so the phrase means having no money left.

Other meanings

  • pennynoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word