The spelling of the word "revenu" can be tricky for English speakers because of its unfamiliar accent and silent letters. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced as /ʁə.və.ny/. The letter "e" in the middle of the word is silent and is only there to indicate that the preceding "u" is nasal. The accent mark on the last letter "u" is called the circumflex and indicates a historical sound change from an "s" to a "u" in Old French. In modern French, the "u" is pronounced as /y/.
Revenu is a French noun that translates to "revenue" in English. It refers to the income, earnings, or financial gains generated by an individual, company, or organization from various sources. Revenu is a broad term that encompasses all the funds or monetary value received by an entity.
In personal finance, revenu typically refers to the income earned by an individual or household from employment, investments, rental properties, or other sources. It is the inflow of money that sustains their livelihood and allows them to meet their expenses and financial obligations.
In the business context, revenu represents the total amount of money generated by a company over a specific period, usually derived from sales of goods or services. It is a crucial indicator of a company's financial health and its ability to generate profits.
Governments also rely on revenu to finance public services and infrastructure. It includes taxes, duties, tariffs, and other sources of income, such as fines and licensing fees. Government revenu is then used to provide public amenities, support welfare programs, and fund various other initiatives.
Overall, revenu refers to the monetary income or funds acquired by individuals, businesses, or governments from a variety of sources. It plays a vital role in sustaining livelihoods, supporting economic activities, and contributing to the overall functioning of societies.
The word "revenu" has its roots in the Latin term "revenire", which means "to come back". In medieval Latin, the term "revenu" emerged as "revenus", which referred to a return or income. This usage eventually made its way into Old French as "revenue", with the same meaning of income or yield. From there, the word entered Middle English as "revenue", keeping its financial connotation. Over time, the spelling shifted slightly to "revenu" in English, while French maintained the original "revenue" spelling.