rial

1 of 2

noun (1)

ri·​al rē-ˈȯl 

-ˈäl

variants or less commonly riyal

: the basic monetary unit of Iran, Oman, and Yemen see Money Table

rial

2 of 2

noun (2)

ri·​al

less common spelling of riyal

: the basic monetary unit of Qatar and Saudi Arabia see Money Table

Examples of rial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Alireza, a college student in a small town in the province of Hormuzgan, told me that before the war, his father had earned as much 250 million Iranian rials a month (about $140) doing construction work in Bandar Abbas. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

In December and January, millions of people took to the streets to protest soaring inflation and the collapsing rial. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 3 July 2026

The economy is shrinking, and Iran’s currency, the rial, has fallen to a record low. — Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 18 June 2026

In Tehran, where the minimum wage sits just above 200 million rials a month, the daily struggle for basic sustenance has become a catalyst for revolt. — Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Persian, from Arabic riyāl riyal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1930, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rial

• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial