USA TODAY
Money is money – whether it’s a crisp Benjamin or a crinkled Washington, you can still use it to pay your bills. If you want the ability to talk money with anybody, however, it might help to know the different slang words for money used around the world. With new social payment tools like Venmo and CashApp expanding globally, you can bet your bottom dollar that this list of nicknames is only going to grow.
Click through this gallery from GOBankingRates.com to discover some weird names for money, along with a bunch of strange money facts you may have never heard.
Dilok Klaisataporn, Getty Images/iStockphotoBacon: The term “bacon” usually refers to smoked and cured pig and has since evolved to also refer to money. It’s typically used in the phrase “bring home the bacon,” but just like the delicious meat, you can use it however you please.
Vitalssss/Getty Images/iStockphotoBenjamin: A relatively new cash synonym, “Benjamins” entered American slang in the ’90s, because of the fact that the U.S. $100 bill has Benjamin Franklin’s portrait on it. The term has become wildly popular in pop culture –specifically in hip-hop music.
ProfessorVasilich, Getty Images/iStockphotoBoodle: “Boodle” typically means a large number of people and has been in the English language since 1828. It was originally used to refer to graft money, however, either that which was actually stolen or potentially stolen.
MARHARYTA MARKO, Getty Images/iStockphotoBread: Bread has long been viewed as a form of sustenance. In the mid-1800s, it took on the additional meaning of “money.
Juankphoto, Getty Images/iStockphotoBucks: The use of “buck” as one of the different words for money goes back to the mid-1700s when deerskin was used as a form of currency. Oh, the good old days.
Matt_Gibson, Getty Images/iStockphotoCabbage: The word “cabbage” originated from the Old French word “caboche,” meaning head. But according to the Huffington Post, it actually came into use as a money synonym thanks to the mob, contrary to popular belief it came from the green color of paper money.
Serezniy/Getty Images/iStockphotoChips: “Chip” dates back to 14th-century English and has a range of meanings. It can mean small fragments or pieces, as well as tokens used to represent the money you win from your friends on poker night.
Sckrepka/Getty Images/iStockphotoDead Presidents: American currency can be referred to as “dead presidents” because of the various former presidents who appear on the bills. The first known use of the phrase was in 1944.
Alex_skp/Getty Images/iStockphotoDinero: “Dinero” was originally used to describe a 10 centavos silver Peruvian coin, but the term has entered the mainstream as slang for money, in general.
Serjio74/Getty Images/iStockphotoDough: This nickname started as one of the different names for money because of its relation to being essential for life. Staying consistent with the baking process, “dough” became a synonym for money before “bread” saw a rise in popularity.
Michael-Merck/Getty Images/iStockphotoFrogskin: Frogskin was added to the list of money names in 1902 because of the green color common among frogs and currency. That fact is “ribbit”-ing.
Kikkerdirk/Getty Images/iStockphotoGelt: Another term for money is “gelt,” which comes from Dutch, German and Yiddish, which calls the chocolate coins gifted to kids at Hanukkah "gelt." This term dates back to 1529.
LPETTET, Getty Images/iStockphotoHound: As language spreads around the world through people’s movements, it can evolve, leading to some interesting names for money across the globe. The Danish word for 100, “hundrede,” is close to “hund”: the Danish word for dog.
Tamara Harding/Getty Images/iStockphotoLobster: In the U.S., lobster is often associated with fine dining. In Australia, people use “lobster” as a term for a $20 bill because of its red color.
Marc_Osborne/Getty Images/iStockphotoLolly: This weird name for money was originally short for lollipop. It entered British slang as a term for money in the mid-20th century. But no matter where you’re from, most everyone agrees money is sweet.
Stockcam/Getty Images/iStockphotoLoot: “Loot” is one of the old words for money we still use today. It was first used in the late 1700s. It originally meant spoils taken in war, which could then be bartered for other items.
Jgroup/Getty Images/iStockphotoLucre: “Lucre” originally came into use in the late 1300s in Old French and meant material gain, but it has since come to be used to mean just money.
Artas/Getty Images/iStockphotoMoola: The first known use of “moola” for money was in 1937, according to Merriam-Webster.
Michael-Ledray,/Getty Images/iStockphotoPasta: If you’re in Spain asking for pasta, you’re not going to get a plate of spaghetti. “Pasta” literally means money in Spain.
Johan10/Getty Images/iStockphotoPayola: “Payola” entered the English lexicon in 1938 to refer to payments of money for commercial favors – often illegally – such as payments made to DJs for playing certain songs more frequently.
Gen_Oksi/Getty Images/iStockphotoPineapple: Continuing with Australia’s color-coded bills and unique money names, the bright yellow $50 bill is referred to as a “pineapple.
FelixR/Getty ImagesToad: Keeping with the Danish animal theme for money, the Danish word for 1,000, “tusind,” becomes “tudse,” the Danish word for “toad.
Scharvik/Getty Images/iStockphotoWad: “Wad” entered the English language from the medieval Latin word, “wadda,” through the Middle English word, “wadde,” in the 15th century. Originally meaning a small bundle or mass, it now refers to a considerable sum of money.
KLH49/Getty ImagesWampum: “Wampum” means strings of polished shells that were used by Native Americans as currency, but it became one of the words for money as cash replaced the shells.
XVI/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Author: Todd Walter
Last Updated: 1703479803
Views: 960
Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)
Reviews: 96% of readers found this page helpful
Name: Todd Walter
Birthday: 2004-05-23
Address: 637 Luis Lodge, New Nicole, NV 77597
Phone: +4642479527479871
Job: Drone Pilot
Hobby: Telescope Building, Cocktail Mixing, Hiking, Golf, Poker, Photography, Survival Skills
Introduction: My name is Todd Walter, I am a venturesome, valuable, lively, capable, vibrant, multicolored, transparent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.