The most common and widely understood word for coin in Spanish is moneda.
However, different Spanish-speaking countries have their own currencies and specific names for their coins, often using centavo or céntimo for the fractional units.
Here’s a breakdown of coin names and related terms in different Spanish-speaking regions:
General terms
- Moneda: Coin.
- Centavo: Cent (used in many Latin American countries).
- Céntimo: Cent (primarily used in Spain for Euro denominations).
- Dólar: Dollar.
- Peso: Peso (used as the main currency unit in many countries).
- Acuñar: To mint or coin (as in creating money).
Specific coin names (examples)
- Mexico:
– Pesos: Main currency unit.
– Centavos: Fractional unit.
- Spain:
– Euro: Main currency unit.
– Céntimos: Fractional unit.
- Argentina:
– Peso Argentino: Main currency unit.
– Centavos: Fractional unit.
- Puerto Rico (uses USD):
– Chavo: Cent or penny (colloquial).
– Vellón: Nickel.
– Peseta: Quarter (colloquial, formerly Spanish currency).
- Cuba:
– Peso Cubano: Main currency unit.
– Centavos: Fractional unit.
Other currencies and their fractional units
- Bolivia: Boliviano (with centavos).
- Chile: Peso Chileno (with centavos).
- Colombia: Peso Colombiano (with centavos).
- Costa Rica: Colón (with céntimos).
- Dominican Republic: Peso Dominicano (with centavos).
- Guatemala: Quetzal (with centavos).
- Honduras: Lempira (with centavos).
- Nicaragua: Córdoba (with centavos).
- Panama: Balboa (uses U.S. Dollars for paper money, but has its own coins, with centésimos).
- Paraguay: Guaraní (with céntimos).
- Peru: Nuevo Sol (with céntimos).
- Uruguay: Peso Uruguayo (with centésimos).
- Venezuela: Bolívar (with céntimos).
In conclusion, while moneda is the general term for coin in Spanish, the specific names and denominations of coins vary significantly depending on the region and the currency being used.
What are the names of Spanish gold coins?
Spanish American gold coins were minted in one-half, one, two, four, and eight escudo denominations, with each escudo worth around two Spanish dollars or $2. The two-escudo (or $4 coin) was the “doubloon” or “pistole”, and the large eight-escudo (or $16) was a “quadruple pistole”.
What is the name penny in Spanish?
Great question! The word ‘penny’ can be translated as: céntimo, for example: No tengo ni un céntimo. (I don’t have a penny.) centavo, for example: Hoy en dia los centavos no valen nada.