cuarto - cualto

[Chip]

Those who have a chance to talk with Dominicans probable have noticed their penchant for using "cuarto" instead of "dinero" when talking about money. The funny thing is the actual term should be "cualto" as this is what the money/coins were called in the early history of the DR; this I learned from a recent trip to the museum here in Santiago located at the old San Luis fort. I highly recommend a visit, it's not big but it's free, conveniently located and has some neat and interesting things.

[M.A.R.]

Wow thanks Chip, Did not know that.

[À bientôt]

What El Chip-Oh! didn't tell you is that he actually says cuaito.

[jrhartley]

wots monedo here- just cash ? chhhhange

[bachata]

Originally Posted by Chip

Those who have a chance to talk with Dominicans probable have noticed their penchant for using "cuarto" instead of "dinero" when talking about money. The funny thing is the actual term should be "cualto" as this is what the money/coins were called in the early history of the DR; this I learned from a recent trip to the museum here in Santiago located at the old San Luis fort. I highly recommend a visit, it's not big but it's free, conveniently located and has some neat and interesting things.

Sure that you understood???? Or maybe the person in the museum is not right at this point. I never heard that before… but in the past there it was a currency called “Cuartilla” = quarter part of one RD peso = 25 cents. And the “Mota” = one cent.

JJ

[Chip]

Originally Posted by bachata

Sure that you understood???

JJ

The guide showed me a a coin with "cualto" written on it.

[À bientôt]

From NALs's favorite cut-and-paste source:

"Only one denomination of coin was issued by the Dominican Republic before decimalization. This was the ¼ real, issued in 1844 in bronze and in both 1844 and 1848 in brass. Decimalization in 1877 brought about the introduction of three new coins, the 1, 2½ and 5 centavos. 1¼ centavo coins were also issued between 1882 and 1888. After the franco was abandoned, silver coins were introduced in 1897 in denominations of 10 and 20 centavos, ½ and 1 peso. The designs of these coins were very similar to those of the franco."

That means bachata is correct: un cuarto real. Someone at the mint messed up the 'spellinization' of cuartos.

En deuda y en gran cantidad: "Oye, dónde 'tan mi cualto?"

[Chip]

Originally Posted by À bientôt

That means bachata is correct:

That there is no such thing as a "cualto"????

[bachata]

Donde estan mis cualtos , should be the incorrect way as people from Santo Domingo “Los capitalenos” pronounce this word, but us los Cibaenos says ; Donde estan mis cuaitos.
And a politician guy no matter what part of the contry he come from say; Aqui estan mis cuartos.

JJ

[M.A.R.]

Imagine if someone in the DR actually had a coin made and mispelled the word to read 'cualto" instead of 'cuarto'.............wow......I mean not impossible though.

I found this definition of cuarto in the REA. dictionary.
12. m. Moneda de cobre española cuyo valor era el de cuatro maravedís de vellón.

I also remember my mom joking around about 'maravedis' which was always pronouced or still is 'maraveli' accent on the i...............No me dio ni un maraveli........which seemed to mean.........didn't give me a dime.