What does "louis" mean?
Alternative letter-case form of louis: various gold and silver coins issued by the French kings.
Louis
/ˈluː.i/ name, noun, slang
name, noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative letter-case form of louis: various gold and silver coins issued by the French kings.
- Grammar: louis is listed as name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: lajos, lew, lou, ludovic.
- Usage evidence: Although the fork entered society on the tables of rich people, many members of royalty, such as Elizabeth I of England and Louis XIV of France, ate with their fingers.
How to use "louis"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "louis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "louis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "louis" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "louis" is acting as name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "lajos" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of louis: various gold and silver coins issued by the French kings. alt-of, historical
"It was a strange collection, like Billy Bones’s hoard for the diversity of coinage, but so much larger and so much more varied that I think I never had more pleasure than in sorting them. English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Georges, and Louises, doubloons and double guineas and moidores and sequins, […]"
- 2 Any gold or silver coin issued by the French kings from Louis XIII to Louis XVI and bearing their image on the obverse side, particularly the gold louis d'ors, originally a French form of the Spanish doubloon but varying in value between 10 and 24 livres. historical
- 3 The louis d'or constitutionnel, a 24-livre gold coin issued by the First French Republic. historical
- 4 The franc germinal or napoleon, a similar gold coin issued by Napoleon and bearing his image on the obverse, worth 20 francs. historical, informal
Proper Noun
- 1 A male given name from French.
"'It is hardly a week since you called me your future husband, and treated me as such; now I am once more the tutor for you: I am addressed as Mr. Moore, and Sir; your lips have forgotten Louis.' "'No, Louis, no: it is an easy, liquid name; not soon forgotten.'"
- 2 A female given name. uncommon
- 3 A surname. rare
"Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis have been marching to their own choreographic drummer for a long time now."
Example
"Although the fork entered society on the tables of rich people, many members of royalty, such as Elizabeth I of England and Louis XIV of France, ate with their fingers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "louis"?
Common synonyms include: lajos, lew, lou, ludovic, ludovicus, luis.
How do you use "louis" in a sentence?
Although the fork entered society on the tables of rich people, many members of royalty, such as Elizabeth I of England and Louis XIV of France, ate with their fingers.
How do you pronounce "louis"?
Pronounced /ˈluː.i/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French Louis, from Middle French Loïs, Loïc, &c., from Old French Looïs, Luis, Lodhuvigs, Lodevis, Lodhwig, &c., from Latin Ludovicus, from Clodovicus, from Frankish *Hlūdawīg, from Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz (“loud; famous”) + *wīgą (“battle”). Doublet of Lewis (which is inherited since the Middle Ages) and, more remotely, Aloysius, Luis, Ludwig, Luigi, and Clovis.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from French louis, from Louis, the name of the French kings who first issued these coins and whose images appeared on their obverses.