$€ Money - Dinero

[Tomisimo]

I'm curious about different ways to refer to money in Spanish. What are the most common ways of saying money (slang or otherwise) in your country?

Basics
dinero - money
monedas - coins
efectivo - cash
to pay in cash/ to pay cash - pagar de contado / pagar en efectivo

Slang terms for money - Spanish
plata silver (this I heard a lot in Costa Rica, not so much in México)
lana wool (México)
varo (México) no tengo varo - I'm broke, Préstame 2 varos - Lend me 2 pesos.

Does anyone know what varo actually means? (a literal meaning?)

Slang terms for money - English
buck US Gimme 5 bucks - Dame 5 dólares
greenback US greenbacks refers to US paper money (the back side is green) This is not used much anymore.
moolah ? A general term for money, not used much, but commonly understood.


I'll update this post as you all suggest more ways of saying money. :)

[poli]

I heard metálico for cash
masa for dough

[Alfonso]

En España se dice: No tengo pasta, o Ese tío tiene mucha pasta. It's slang, but everybody understands it.

También se dice: No tengo un duro, ¡siempre en negativo! La expresión es ésta: No tengo un duro, o no tiene un duro, etc. Los duros son las antiguas monedas de cinco pesetas. Ya no existen, pero se sigue usando la expresión.

David, I think what you wrote about to pay cash is pagar al contado, at least here, in Spain.

I don't think plata is slang. At least, my Colombian and Venezuelan friends use it exclusively, and they are not talking slang all the time.

[sosia]

From sinatra-- nickel
from Spain: pasta, pelas, cuartos, guita, parné
for specific :
verde (for the 1000 ptas bill, now with euros of no use)
duro (for the 5 pesetas coin,now with euros of no use


plata is often heard in Argentina
saludos :D

[Elaina]

Money.......

feria
chavos
menudo (change)

greenbacks
Franklins ($100)
Nickels ($5) - I hope not only in drug dealing:eek:

Many, many years ago American money was referred to as "oro" in Mexico and Mexican money was refered to as "plata". People would go to the "mercado" and vendors would say how much a product cost "en oro" or "en plata". This, of course, was mostly done in the border towns.

I guess years ago money from these two regions were made of gold and silver respectively. Don't you think?

Elaina;)

[gomey]

Our language is so much fun!
In Puerto Rico we use "chavos" for money. In Mexico, if I call it "chavos" I will get a funny look because chavos refer to young people (teenagers).
Menudo in Mexico is a type of tripe soup. Menudo in Puerto Rico means small change (money).

Also, even dollars are the currency in PR, they still use the term "pesos" for the dollar, pesetas for a quarter, etc.

Gomey