Reis
/reɪs/noun
A former Portuguese and Brazilian monetary unit, used as the plural of real.
Did you know?The name comes from Portuguese real, meaning “royal,” because the currency was originally associated with the authority of the Portuguese crown.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reg-
“To move in a straight line, guide, or rule”
Classical Latin
Latin
rēx / rēgālis
“King / royal”
Medieval Latin
Latin
rēgālis
“Belonging to a king or crown”
14th Century
Portuguese
real
“Royal; the name of a Portuguese coin and monetary unit”
15th–20th Century
Portuguese
reis
“Plural of real, literally “royals””
Modern English
English
reis
“A former Portuguese and Brazilian monetary unit”