How to Say "foreign currency" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “foreign currency” is “divisa” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Necesito cambiar divisas antes de mi viaje a Japón.
I need to exchange foreign currency before my trip to Japan.
El euro es una divisa muy estable.
The euro is a very stable currency.
El mercado de divisas abre las veinticuatro horas del día.
The foreign exchange market is open twenty-four hours a day.
Divisa vs. Moneda
While both mean 'currency,' 'divisa' specifically refers to money from another country used in international trade, while 'moneda' can mean any country's money or a physical coin.
Always Feminine
The word 'divisa' is always feminine, even when referring to masculine-sounding currencies like 'el dólar'.
Using it for coins
Mistake: “Tengo una divisa en mi bolsillo.”
Correction: Tengo una moneda en mi bolsillo. Use 'moneda' for physical coins; 'divisa' is for the abstract concept of international money.
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