Is it a lot or a few pennies? What is a pittance

In the Russian language, many words change meaning, acquire phraseological features, are used in a figurative sense. For example, pennies - what is it, the kind of money or still the designation of something else? Understand this issue is not so difficult.

Pitches are money

The original meaning of the word is a thing of the past. First of all, this is, of course, money. Groshi is a copper or, rarely, silver, small change that was used in many European countries during the late Middle Ages. Since that time, they, as a monetary unit, have survived only in Poland. Linguists believe that the word "pennies" (pennies, pennies) used in Ukrainian and Belarusian languages, which denotes money in general, migrated from them precisely from Polish.

In Russia, so called a small copper coin worth two kopecks, and then polkopeyki, the so-called polushku. At one time even coined a small coin with the name "penny", at the end of the reign of Peter I.

Phraseological meaning

At the moment in the Russian language this word is used exclusively in a figurative sense. In most cases, this designation is cheap without mentioning the specifics. If some thing is said to be worth a penny, then this is a very small price.

Often, this concept is used in a dismissive sense, especially when it comes to the material gain received for something. For example: "Yes, what kind of salary - a penny" or "Is this money - a penny" and even "disappear for a copper penny", "a broken penny is not worth it."

Approximately in this sense, the word "penny" is used. But if a penny is now a monetary unit that has circulation on the territory of Russia, then pennies were minted at the time of Peter I.

Relevance of use in speech

Considering that in a figurative sense, pennies are a negligibly small price, one should be careful about the use of this word. It is entirely permissible in colloquial speech, in fiction to give the narrative a figurative and special semantic content. In journalistic articles this word is used to create an appropriate emotional response of readers. For example, if the article says that pennies are allocated to health care, this will give a more distinctive response than if a specific amount is mentioned.

In business and official correspondence, the use of the word "pennies" is unacceptable, it is too emotional and can lead to an ambiguous understanding of the text. It is better to use more neutral in sounding words and phrases.