Inklingo
← Dictionary

peseta

peh-SEH-tah/peˈseta/

“peseta” means “peseta” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

peseta

Also: money
NounfA2
Spain
A single silver coin with a profile of a person and the word España, resting on a rustic wooden table.

📝 In Action

Encontré una moneda de cien pesetas en el cajón.

A2

I found a hundred-peseta coin in the drawer.

Mis abuelos todavía calculan los precios en pesetas.

B1

My grandparents still calculate prices in pesetas.

Ese coche le costó un millón de pesetas en los años ochenta.

B1

That car cost him a million pesetas in the eighties.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • pela (buck/coin (informal Spanish slang for peseta))
  • rubia (blonde (slang for the gold-colored one-peseta coin))

Antonyms

  • euro (euro (the current currency))

Common Collocations

  • mil pesetas – one thousand pesetas
  • cambiar pesetas – to exchange pesetas

Idioms & Expressions

  • No tener ni una peseta – To be completely broke or have no money at all.
  • Nadie da duros a cuatro pesetas – You don't get something for nothing; if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

quarter

Also: 20-cent coin
NounfB2informal
Puerto RicoCubaMexico
A shiny silver 25-cent coin featuring an eagle on one side, shown in a simple style.

📝 In Action

¿Tienes una peseta para la máquina?

B1

Do you have a quarter for the machine?

La guagua cuesta una peseta.

B2

The bus costs twenty-five cents.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • veinticinco centavos (twenty-five cents)

Common Collocations

  • echar una peseta – to toss in a quarter

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "peseta" in Spanish:

20-cent coin→money→peseta→quarter→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: peseta

Question 1 of 3

What happened to the peseta in Spain in 2002?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
pesetero(money-grubbing or stingy) — Adjective
pesetón(a large old coin) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Catalan word 'pesseta', which is a small version of the word 'peça', meaning 'piece'. It literally meant 'little piece' of money.

First recorded: 18th Century

Cognates (Related words)

Catalan: pesseta

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still spend pesetas in Spain?

No, you cannot spend them in shops. The deadline to exchange old pesetas for Euros at the Bank of Spain also passed in 2021, so they are now mostly collectors' items or souvenirs.

Why do people say 'pela' instead of 'peseta'?

'Pela' is a very common informal slang term, similar to saying 'buck' for 'dollar' or 'quid' for 'pound'.

Is the 'peseta' used in Mexico?

Historically, yes, it was used for certain coins, but in modern Mexico, it is rare and mostly used by older generations to refer to 25-cent amounts.