The French monetary unit is composed of two parts: the sou and the CENTIME. The sou is a three-letter word that was used as a unit of currency in France from the Middle Ages until the early 19th century. The CENTIME is a seven-letter word that has been used as a unit of currency in France since the 19th century. Both the sou and the CENTIME are still used today, although the euro is now the official currency of France.