Inklingo

How to Say "penny" in Spanish

English → Spanish

centavo

sen-TAH-vohsenˈtaβo

nounA1informal
Use 'centavo' when referring to the smallest unit of currency in the United States (100 cents make a dollar).
A close-up illustration of a single, simple copper coin, representing one centavo.

Examples

No tengo ni un centavo para el autobús.

I don't even have a cent for the bus.

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

nounA1formal
Use 'céntimo' when referring to the smallest unit of currency in many European countries (like Spain, where 100 céntimos make a euro) or when speaking figuratively about a very small amount of money.

Examples

El periódico cuesta solo cincuenta céntimos.

The newspaper costs only fifty cents.

penique

peh-NEE-kehpeˈnike

nounA2formal
Use 'penique' specifically when referring to the historical or current basic unit of currency in the United Kingdom.
A single copper-colored coin with a smooth surface and a slightly raised edge, resting on a flat neutral background.

Examples

La máquina expendedora acepta solo un penique.

The vending machine only accepts a penny.

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.

Confusing US Cents with European Cents

The most common mistake is using 'centavo' for European currency or 'céntimo' for US currency. Remember: 'centavo' is primarily for US cents, while 'céntimo' is for euros and other European currencies, or used figuratively for any small sum.

Related Translations

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