How to Say "cent" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “cent” is “centavo” — use 'centavo' when referring to one hundredth of a dollar, peso, or similar currency units common in Latin America and the United States.
centavo
sen-TAH-vohsenˈtaβo
Examples
Necesito un centavo para la máquina expendedora.
I need one cent for the vending machine.
Solo me queda un centavo en el bolsillo.
I only have one cent left in my pocket.
El precio del chicle es de cincuenta centavos.
The price of the gum is fifty cents.
No vale ni un centavo, es basura.
It's not worth even a cent, it's garbage.
Gender Rule
Since 'centavo' is masculine, you must use the masculine article 'el' (the) or 'un' (a) before it. For multiple cents, use 'los centavos'.
Using 'Ciento' for 'Cent'
Mistake: “Using 'ciento' when referring to the small coin (e.g., 'diez ciento').”
Correction: Use 'centavo' for the unit of currency: 'diez centavos' (ten cents). 'Ciento' means 'one hundred'.
céntimo
Examples
La propina fue de cincuenta céntimos.
The tip was fifty cents.
penique
peh-NEE-kehpeˈnike
Examples
No doy ni un penique por esa idea.
I don't give a cent for that idea.
Ese dulce solo cuesta un penique.
That candy only costs a penny.
No tengo ni un penique en mi cuenta bancaria.
I don't have a single penny in my bank account.
Antes de la decimalización, el penique británico era diferente.
Before decimalization, the British penny was different.
Always Masculine
Just like most currencies in Spanish (el euro, el dólar), 'penique' is always masculine. You should use 'el' or 'un' with it.
Simple Plural
To talk about more than one, simply add an 's' to the end: 'peniques'.
Using it for Euros
Mistake: “Me costó cincuenta peniques.”
Correction: Me costó cincuenta céntimos. Use 'céntimo' for Euro cents and 'penique' specifically for British pennies or general English contexts.
Spelling confusion
Mistake: “penny”
Correction: penique. While it comes from English, the spelling in Spanish changes significantly to match Spanish phonetics.
mango
mahn-gohˈmaŋɡo
Examples
Me quedé sin un mango después de pagar el alquiler.
I was left without a cent after paying the rent.
No tengo ni un mango para el autobús.
I don't have a single cent for the bus.
Ese teléfono me costó cincuenta mangos.
That phone cost me fifty bucks.
Laburo todo el día para ganar unos mangos.
I work all day to earn a few bucks.
Plural Usage
In this slang sense, it is very common to use the plural 'mangos' to count money, similar to how 'bucks' is used in English.
Context is Key
Mistake: “Using this in a formal business meeting.”
Correction: Use 'dinero' or the specific currency (pesos, euros). 'Mango' is very informal and could sound unprofessional.
Centavo vs. Céntimo
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.