Currency vocabulary in Spanish includes the names of coins and bills, important terms for talking about money, and useful expressions for buying, selling, and exchanging currency.
Currency Names
These are the standard words for money in general, as well as the names of specific currencies used in Spanish-speaking countries.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| moneda | monedas | coin/currency | coins/currencies | Perdí una moneda en la calle. | I lost a coin on the street. |
| billete | billetes | bill/note | bills/notes | Compré un billete de 20 euros. | I bought a 20-euro bill. |
| dinero | — | money | — | No tengo dinero en efectivo. | I don't have cash. |
| dólar | dólares | dollar | dollars | El dólar está subiendo hoy. | The dollar is rising today. |
| euro | euros | euro | euros | Viajaré a Europa con euros. | I will travel to Europe with euros. |
| peso | pesos | peso | pesos | El peso mexicano es fuerte. | The Mexican peso is strong. |
| centavo | centavos | cent | cents | Hay 50 centavos en mi bolsillo. | There are 50 cents in my pocket. |
Key Currency Terms
These are important words that will help you understand and discuss prices, payments, and exchanges in Spanish.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| precio | precios | price | prices | ¿Cuál es el precio de este libro? | What is the price of this book? |
| cambio | cambios | change | changes | Dame cambio para un billete de 50. | Give me change for a 50-bill. |
| pago | pagos | payment | payments | Hice el pago con tarjeta. | I made the payment with a card. |
| efectivo | — | cash | — | Prefiero pagar en efectivo. | I prefer to pay in cash. |
| tarjeta | tarjetas | card | cards | Pagué con tarjeta de crédito. | I paid with a credit card. |
| cuenta | cuentas | bill/check | bills/checks | La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. |
| tasa de cambio | tasas de cambio | exchange rate | exchange rates | La tasa de cambio está favorable hoy. | The exchange rate is favorable today. |
| retirar | — | to withdraw | — | Voy a retirar dinero del cajero. | I'm going to withdraw money from the ATM. |
| depositar | — | to deposit | — | Deposité dinero en mi cuenta. | I deposited money into my account. |
Common Currency Expressions
These are useful phrases that include currency vocabulary to help you speak more naturally in everyday situations involving money.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | — | How much does it cost? | — | ¿Cuánto cuesta la camiseta? | How much does the T-shirt cost? |
| ¿Cuánto vale? | — | How much is it worth? | — | ¿Cuánto vale esta moneda antigua? | How much is this old coin worth? |
| ¿Me puede dar cambio? | — | Can you give me change? | — | Pagué con 100, ¿me puede dar cambio? | I paid with 100, can you give me change? |
| Está barato | — | It’s cheap | — | Este reloj está barato. | This watch is cheap. |
| Está caro | — | It’s expensive | — | La entrada está cara hoy. | The ticket is expensive today. |
| Pago con tarjeta | — | I pay with a card | — | Pago con tarjeta, por favor. | I pay with a card, please. |
| Solo efectivo | — | Cash only | — | En este lugar solo aceptan efectivo. | This place only accepts cash. |
Translate to Spanish: 'Is this cheap or expensive?'
¿Está barato o caro?
'Barato' means 'cheap,' and 'caro' means 'expensive.' The question '¿Está barato o caro?' asks about the price level in a simple way.
Translate to Spanish: 'Can you give me change for 50?'
¿Me puede dar cambio para 50?
The phrase '¿Me puede dar cambio para 50?' means 'Can you give me change for 50?' It is a polite way to ask for change.
Useful Verbs
These verbs are commonly used when talking about money, payments, and currency in Spanish.
| Spanish Verb | English Verb | Example (Spanish) | Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| pagar | to pay | Pagué con tarjeta de crédito. | I paid with a credit card. |
| costar | to cost | ¿Cuánto cuesta el libro? | How much does the book cost? |
| cambiar | to change/exchange | Cambié dólares por euros. | I exchanged dollars for euros. |
| ahorrar | to save | Estoy ahorrando para viajar. | I’m saving to travel. |
| gastar | to spend | Gasté mucho dinero ayer. | I spent a lot of money yesterday. |
| retirar | to withdraw | Retiré dinero del cajero automático. | I withdrew money from the ATM. |
| depositar | to deposit | Deposité dinero en el banco. | I deposited money in the bank. |
| deber | to owe | Le debo 20 pesos a Carlos. | I owe Carlos 20 pesos. |
Summary
You now have a solid foundation in Spanish currency vocabulary, including the names of common currencies and coins, key terms for handling money, useful expressions for everyday transactions, and important verbs to describe financial actions. These words and phrases will help you navigate shopping, banking, and travel situations with confidence.
Flashcards (1 of 31)
- English Singular: coin/currency
- English Plural: coins/currencies
- Example (English): I lost a coin on the street.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
