A comprehensive guide to Spanish currency vocabulary, including names of coins, bills, denominations, and related financial terms to help you navigate money conversations confidently.
Understanding currency vocabulary in Spanish is essential for everyday transactions, traveling, and managing finances. This guide covers the most common coins and bills, as well as related terms that will help you talk about money with confidence.
Coins
Spanish coins come in various denominations, each with its own name. Here are the most common coins you’ll encounter:
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| céntimo | céntimos | cent | cents | Tengo cinco céntimos. | I have five cents. |
| moneda | monedas | coin | coins | Tengo una moneda de un euro. | I have a one-euro coin. |
| peseta | pesetas | peseta | pesetas | Antes usábamos pesetas. | We used pesetas before. |
Antes usábamos ___ (We used ___ before).
What was the currency used in Spain before the euro?
pesetas
The correct answer is 'pesetas,' which was Spain's currency before the euro. 'Euros' is the current currency, 'dólares' are dollars, and 'céntimos' are cents.
Bills
Bills are paper money, and their names can vary by country. Here are the most common terms, along with some example denominations:
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| billete | billetes | bill / banknote | bills / banknotes | Necesito un billete de veinte euros. | I need a twenty-euro bill. |
| euro | euros | euro | euros | Tengo diez euros. | I have ten euros. |
| dólar | dólares | dollar | dollars | Cambié dólares por euros. | I exchanged dollars for euros. |
Denominations
Denominations refer to the specific values of coins and bills. Here are the most common ones you should know:
| Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| uno | one | Quiero un euro. | I want one euro. |
| cinco | five | Tengo un billete de cinco euros. | I have a five-euro bill. |
| diez | ten | Diez euros, por favor. | Ten euros, please. |
| veinte | twenty | Un billete de veinte, por favor. | A twenty bill, please. |
| cincuenta | fifty | Tengo cincuenta euros. | I have fifty euros. |
| cien | one hundred | Un billete de cien euros. | A one-hundred-euro bill. |
Related Terms
These additional terms will help you talk about money more naturally and handle transactions with ease:
| Spanish | English | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| cambio | change | ¿Tiene cambio? | Do you have change? |
| pagar | to pay | Quiero pagar con tarjeta. | I want to pay with a card. |
| precio | price | ¿Cuál es el precio? | What’s the price? |
| cuenta | bill / check | La cuenta, por favor. | The bill, please. |
| efectivo | cash | Quiero pagar en efectivo. | I want to pay in cash. |
| tarjeta | card | Pago con tarjeta. | I pay with a card. |
| monedas sueltas | loose change | Tengo monedas sueltas. | I have loose change. |
Pago con ___. (I pay with a card.)
How do you say 'card' (payment card) in Spanish?
tarjeta
'Tarjeta' means 'card' in Spanish, especially for payments. 'Billete' is bill, 'moneda' is coin, and 'cambio' is change.
Summary
Spanish currency vocabulary includes:
- Coins: céntimo, moneda, peseta
- Bills: billete, euro, dólar
- Denominations: uno, cinco, diez, veinte, cincuenta, cien
- Related Terms: cambio, pagar, precio, cuenta, efectivo, tarjeta, monedas sueltas
Learning these words will help you handle money confidently in Spanish-speaking situations.
Flashcards (1 of 19)
- English Singular: cent
- English Plural: cents
- English Example: I have five cents.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
