Inklingo

How to Say "coin" in Spanish

English → Spanish

moneda

/moh-NEH-dah//moˈneða/

nounA1general
Use 'moneda' when referring to any piece of physical money currently in circulation, like the coins you use for everyday purchases.
A close-up of a single, shiny, golden circular coin resting on a flat surface.

Examples

Perdí una moneda de un euro en el sofá.

I lost a one-euro coin in the sofa.

¿Tienes una moneda para el carrito de la compra?

Do you have a coin for the shopping cart?

El niño colecciona monedas antiguas.

The boy collects old coins.

Always Feminine

Since 'moneda' is a feminine word, remember to use 'la' or 'una' before it: 'la moneda' (the coin), 'una moneda' (a coin).

Confusing Coin and Paper Money

Mistake: “Using 'moneda' for paper money.”

Correction: Use 'billete' (bill/banknote) for paper money, and 'moneda' only for metal coins.

escudo

es-COO-doh/esˈkuðo/

nounB2historical
Use 'escudo' specifically when talking about a historical gold coin, particularly the former currency of Portugal.
A large, shiny gold coin featuring a simple stamped crown design, representing a unit of currency.

Examples

El escudo fue la moneda de Portugal antes de la introducción del euro.

The escudo was the currency of Portugal before the introduction of the euro.

En Cabo Verde, todavía se utiliza el escudo caboverdiano.

In Cape Verde, the Cape Verdean escudo is still used.

Moneda vs. Escudo

The most common mistake is using 'escudo' for any type of coin. Remember that 'moneda' is the everyday word for any piece of money, while 'escudo' is a specific historical term. Unless you are discussing old currencies or specifically the Portuguese escudo, 'moneda' is almost always the correct choice.

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