Current vs. Currant

Homophones can be confusing, and in their misuse, hilarity sometimes ensues. If you write that someone was swept away by the currant and you aren’t relating a cautionary tale of drunken misadventure, then you had probably better read the rest of this article to find out why these words are different.

In this article, we will compare current vs. currant. As part of this comparison, we will use both words in a few example sentences to illustrate the proper context. Plus, we will demonstrate a useful trick that you can use to help you remember whether you mean current or currant.

Origin:

Current originated from Middle English (in the adjective sense ‘running, flowing’): from Old French corant ‘running’, from courre ‘run’, from Latin currere ‘run’. Currant originated from Middle English raisons of Corauntz, translating Anglo-Norman French raisins de Corauntz ‘grapes of Corinth’ (the original source).

Current as adjective:

Current is used as an adjective in English language which means belonging to the present time; happening or being used or done now.

Keep abreast of current events.

Current also implies the meaning of something in common or general use.

The other meaning of the word is still current.

Current as noun:

Current is also used as a noun in English language which means a body of water or air moving in a definite direction, especially through a surrounding body of water or air in which there is less movement.

I am studying about ocean currents in geography.

A flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles is also called current.

This completes the circuit so that a current flows to the lamp.

Current is also used to imply the general tendency or course of events or opinion.

The student movement formed a distinct current of protest.

Currant as noun:

Currant is used as a noun in English language which means a small dried fruit made from a small seedless variety of grape originally grown in the eastern Mediterranean region and much used in cooking.

He ate 4 currant buns in last hour.

Another meaning of currant is a Eurasian shrub which produces small edible black, red, or white berries.

A took a berry from a currant shrub.

Examples:

The aroma was a swirl of evident black currant and violets, with supporting roles from vanilla, mocha, leather and red meat. (The Telegram)

“Red currants, generally speaking, are the tartest and the ones people think about for currants,” said Dale Secher of Carandale Farm in Oregon, Wis. (Duluth News Tribune)

After adding the mix of hops for balance, they ferment the beer to bring out a hint of dried raisins and currants. (Pasadena Star-News)

“A large part of the current inflation is temporary,” Fischer said on Bloomberg TV. (Business Insider)

But an upset will be a tall order, not least because defensive height is a little of what Plummer’s current team lacks. (The Sydney Morning Herald)

“Illegal killing and poaching of lions are occurring at a massive scale, which are contributing at a far greater extent to the current devastating decline of the species,” said Susie Sheppard, media director for Panthera, a coalition of cat academics dedicated to conservation. (The Star)

Current or currant:

A currant is a small dried fruit which is raisin-like, made from a Mediterranean grape, the zante. A currant is also a berry from a currant shrub such as a blackcurrant, redcurrant or whitecurrant. They are often used in baking and in jellies and jams. Currant comes from the mid-fourteenth century term raysyn of Curans, literally raisins of Corinth, referring to the zante. In the 1570s currant was also applied to the Northern European berry.Current is a flow of water or air that moves in a definite direction, usually in a swift manner. Current is also a flow of electricity between conductors, it is measured in amperes. Used as an adjective, current means happening in the present or in general use, the adverb form is currently. Current comes from the Old French word corant, which means running.