by Dr. Valery Osipov – Etymologist
Etymology is the study of the history of words and how their form and meaning have changed over time.

I wonder if anyone knows the true sense of the word MONEY? This word is too old for any direct information to be known. It is much older than the modern understanding. The ulterior etymology of this word is disputed. Its etymology is rather difficult.

The focus idea of this root is “changing”. Clearly, we can note the same idea in English CHANGE with the financial meanings of 1.” the balance of money returned when something is paid for”; 2.“money of smaller denomination given or received in exchange for money of higher denomination”; 3.“to give or receive the equivalent of money in lower denominations or in foreign currency”; 4.“coins” . Thus, we can write: money=changing=coins.

What is money? Money is a thing used in place of another one or others. Usually, in place of goods or services. We use money for the replacing of one thing for another, substitution. This act is called in Old Slavonic MENA- “change, exchange”. The means of this act is money or MENY (????) (in Old Slavonic). Note, please, here the resemblance in sounds: MONEY/MENY.

The Czech word for “coin” is MINCE which is related to German MUNZE – “coin”. Both are derived from Old Slavic MENTSE (?????) meaning literally “a small thing for change”. Note once more: coin is a means for change or exchange.

The Old Slavonic word MENY is plural form from MENA – “one thing for exchange”. The same sense has the Latin MINA and Greek MNA. Both mean ”an ancient unit of weight and value equal to 1?60 talent”. See also the modern Arabic MANN and Hebrew MANEH. Both for “name of a unit of weight”.

We find in Modern Arabic the word MINA – “port”. What does it have to do with English word “money”? As a matter of fact, it is of the same root bearing the idea of exchanging. Historically, port was a place for the commercial exchange of goods. It was an important center of trade (buying and selling).

Similarly, the word “money” has its cognate in Japanese. The Japanese word MINATO – “port” is of the same root.
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