Quick English: Money Talks

There are some things that are essential to living or traveling in a new country. One of those is understanding how the currency works, and how to talk about it. Though it is not difficult to pay for something with "five dollars," when a friend of yours asks to borrow a "fiver," it may not be as clear.

Below is some common slang for money in some English-speaking countries.

Terms used in several countries:

fiver: A note worth 5. ($5, £5, etc.)

tenner: A note worth 10 ($10, £10, etc.)

grand: 1000 of a currency ($1,000, £1,000, etc.)

dough: General word for cash

change: The money returned when a payment is more than the amount needed

UK:

British money is measured in pounds sterling and pence, though people mostly just say pounds and pence. 100 pence = 1 pound.

Currency is either written as 50GBP or £50, with coins less than £1 called pence or p. (50 pence = 50p, or half of a pound)

Collectively, paper money is known as notes.

USA:

American money is divided into dollars and cents. 100 cents = 1 dollar.

Currency is either written as USD100 or $100, with coins less than 1 dollar called cents and written as 50¢.

Collectively, paper money is known as bills.

1-cent coin is called a penny.

5-cent coin is called a nickel.

10-cent coin is called a dime.

25-cent coin is called a quarter.

One Dollar is also known as a single.

Cash is a term money in general, as well as a way to pay. The question "Cash or credit?" means would you rather pay with actual money or on a credit/debit card?

Bucks is a plural slang term for dollars. "I paid 20 bucks for this shirt."

Canada:

Currency in Canada is also called dollars and cents. It is written as 1CAD, C$1 or $1.

Collectively, paper money is called bills.

In Canada, there is both a $1 coin and a $1 bill. The $1 coin is also called a loonie.

There is also a toonie (two loonies), which is a $2 coin.

Australia:

In Australia, money is divided into dollars and cents.

Collectively, Australian dollars are called notes.

Australian bills, in slang, are referenced by their colors. A ten dollar note is called a blue-tongue because the note is mostly blue.

A twenty-dollar note is known as a lobster because the note is mostly red.

A fifty-dollar note is called a pineapple because the note is mostly yellow.

However, a one-hundred-dollar note is known as a hundi-stick.

New Zealand:

New Zealand currency is divided into dollars and cents.

Collectively, New Zealand dollars are called notes. It is written as 50NZD, NZ$50 or $50.

The New Zealand dollar is also called the kiwi.

New Zealanders also call their money dosh.

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