In the Georgian language, the word "lari" is spelled ლარი and pronounced /lɑri/. The phonetic transcription of the word indicates that the first sound is a voiced alveolar lateral approximant, followed by an unrounded open back vowel. The final sound is an alveolar trill. The spelling of the word may seem unusual to those unfamiliar with the Georgian alphabet, which has 33 letters and includes unique symbols for consonants that are not found in English.
Lari is a noun that refers to the currency of the country of Georgia. It is the official currency of Georgia and is symbolized by the abbreviation "GEL." The name "lari" is derived from the Georgian word "lar" which translates to "hoard" or "treasure."
The lari is subdivided into 100 tetri. Banknotes in circulation come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 lari, while coins have values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 tetri, as well as 1 and 2 lari. The lari has been the official currency of Georgia since 1995, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and Georgia's independence. It replaced the Soviet ruble as the country's currency.
The value of the lari is subject to fluctuations and is influenced by various factors such as the country's economic performance, political stability, and foreign exchange markets. The National Bank of Georgia is responsible for managing and ensuring the stability of the lari, implementing monetary policy, and issuing currency.
As a measure of value and exchange, the lari plays a vital role in the Georgian economy, facilitating various transactions within the country's borders and serving as a means of exchange for international trade. It symbolizes the economic sovereignty and independence of Georgia as a nation.
The word "lari" has multiple etymologies depending on its context. Here are two possible origins:
1. Indonesian/Malay Language: In Indonesian and Malay, "lari" means "to run" or "running". The etymology of this word can be traced back to the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian language where "lari" had a similar meaning.
2. Georgian Language: In Georgian, "lari" is the currency of Georgia. The word originated from the medieval Georgian word "lar" which means "hoard" or "treasure". This term was adopted during the currency reform in Georgia in 1995. The choice of the word "lari" was influenced by the historical usage of the term "lar" to refer to various types of treasury systems in medieval Georgia.
It's essential to note that the word "lari" might have additional meanings or origins in other languages.