Money, the lifeblood of modern society, has been a topic of fascination and conversation for centuries. It’s no surprise then that a rich tapestry of slang words has evolved to describe it. From playful nicknames to historical terms, these expressions offer a glimpse into our cultural relationship with wealth and finance. Whether you’re writing a blog post for money-central.com, crafting dialogue for a novel, or just curious about the lingo, understanding these slang terms for money can enrich your communication and cultural awareness. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of money slang and explore 100 terms that add a little flavor to financial discussions.
100+ Slang Terms for Money You Should Know
1. Bacon
Why is money like bacon? Perhaps because it’s something highly desirable and “bringing home the bacon” implies financial success. This breakfast-related term is a classic and still understood today.
2. Bank
The direct link to financial institutions makes “bank” an easy slang term for money. Phrases like “making bank” clearly illustrate its connection to earning a lot of money, as in, “Ever since Sarah started freelancing, she’s been making bank.”
3. Bankroll
Originally referring to a roll of banknotes, “bankroll” now simply means money, especially when needed for a specific purpose. Think of it as the funds necessary to “roll” with your plans, such as, “I need to build up my bankroll before I can start investing.”
4. Bean
Stepping back in time, “bean” was once an archaic term for a dollar. While rarely heard today, it’s a piece of linguistic history. You might encounter it in older literature or period pieces.
5 & 6. Benjamins & Benji
These terms are distinctly American, referencing Benjamin Franklin, whose portrait graces the $100 bill. “Benjamins” or the shortened “Benji” are instantly recognizable as referring to hundred-dollar bills, popularized in hip-hop culture and beyond.
7. Big Ones
When amounts get larger, “big ones” comes into play. Each “big one” represents $1,000. So, talking about “ten big ones” is a casual way to say $10,000.
8. Bills
While technically referring to banknotes in general, “bills” as slang often singles out hundred-dollar bills, emphasizing larger denominations.
9. Bones
“Bones” is a cool, slightly edgy slang term for dollars. You might hear it in contexts emphasizing value or cost, like “That vintage jacket cost me 200 bones.”
10. Boodle
This term carries a shady connotation, referring to illicit cash – counterfeit, stolen, or bribe money. Using “boodle” implies money obtained through less-than-legal means.
11. Brass (UK)
Traveling across the pond, “brass” is Northern British slang for money. Its origins are linked to scrap metal dealers who valued brass. The saying “Where there’s muck, there’s brass” highlights finding wealth in unexpected places.
12. Bread
Like “bacon,” “bread” is a food-related metaphor for money, signifying sustenance and necessity. Used since the 19th century, it represents the money you “bring in” to survive, as in “He works hard to bring home the bread for his family.”
13. Bucks
Perhaps the most ubiquitous slang for dollars, “bucks” is believed to stem from colonial times when deerskins (buckskins) were traded. Its widespread use makes it instantly understood across English-speaking regions.
14. C-Note
Using Roman numerals, “C” represents 100. Thus, a “C-note” is a $100 bill. This term adds a touch of historical sophistication to talking about money.
15. Cabbage
The visual resemblance of tightly packed green bills to a head of cabbage is the likely origin of this slang. It emphasizes the bulk and green color of money.
16. Cake
Taking the food metaphors further, “cake” implies money as something sweet and desirable, even better than basic “bread” or “dough.”
17. Cash (or Cash Money)
Straightforward and emphatic, “cash” or “cash money” simply refers to money in its physical form, highlighting immediate spending power.
18. Capital
While “capital” has formal business meanings, it can also be used informally as slang for money in general, suggesting resources and financial strength.
19. Celery
Continuing the vegetable theme, “celery,” like cabbage and lettuce, is another green veggie representing money, again playing on the color association.
20. Cha-Ching
Mimicking the sound of a cash register, “cha-ching” is an onomatopoeic slang term for money, especially emphasizing the sound and excitement of a sale or financial gain.
21. Chalupa
Unexpectedly, “chalupa,” primarily known as a Mexican dish, also serves as slang for money. The connection is less clear but adds a quirky element to money slang.
22. Cheddar
If someone “has the cheddar,” it signifies they are financially well-off, “making bank.” “Cheddar” implies wealth and financial success.
23. Cheese
“Cheese,” similar to cheddar, became a nickname for money, possibly from the historical context of cheese being distributed as welfare benefits in the US.
24. Chips
Drawing from poker culture, “chips” refers to poker chips used in gambling, and by extension, money in general, particularly in contexts of betting or risk.
25. Chump Change
The opposite of large sums, “chump change” describes a small, insignificant amount of money, the kind a “chump” might consider substantial.
26. Clams
“Clams” is another slang term for dollars, adding to the list of seafood-related money terms (though the connection here is less obvious).
27. Cream
Acronym for “Cash Rules Everything Around Me,” popularized by the Wu-Tang Clan, “cream” became synonymous with money, especially in hip-hop culture.
28. Coin
“Coin” is a basic, general term for money, particularly useful when asking to borrow a small amount, like “Can I borrow some coin for the bus?”
29. Dead Presidents
American banknotes feature portraits of deceased presidents (and Benjamin Franklin). “Dead presidents” is a humorous and slightly cynical slang term for US currency.
30. Dime
A “dime” is a ten-cent coin, but as slang, it can represent money in general, particularly in phrases like “Not on my dime!” indicating disapproval of spending.
31. Dinero
Borrowed from Spanish, “dinero” simply means “money.” Its use in English, particularly in the American West, adds a touch of international flair.
32. Dollar Dollar Bill Y’all
This iconic phrase, popularized by rap music, emphasizes the dollar bill as the fundamental unit of currency and the pursuit of wealth.
33. Dosh (UK)
“Dosh” is a common British slang term for money, origin uncertain but widely used and understood in the UK.
34. Dough
“Dough,” like bread, is a long-standing food metaphor for money. Its usage dates back to the 19th century, representing the basic financial “ingredients” for life.
35. Dubs (or Doubles or Double Sawbuck)
“Dubs” refers to twenty-dollar bills. Two “dubs” would be $40. “Double sawbuck” is a more archaic synonym.
36. Ducats
Historically, “ducats” were European gold or silver coins, primarily used in Venice. In slang, it evokes a sense of old-world wealth or even pirate treasure.
37. Ducketts
Americanizing “ducats,” “ducketts” can refer to poker chips or simply money, carrying a similar, slightly old-fashioned feel.
38. Fetti
“Fetti” is likely a mispronunciation of Spanish “feria” (coins), or possibly related to the image of money “making it rain” like confetti. It’s a more recent, hip-hop influenced term.
39. Figgas
“Figgas” (figures) is a hip-hop term emphasizing the numerical amount of money, particularly large sums.
40 & 41 & 42. Fins, Five Spot, Fiver
These all refer to five-dollar bills. “Fins” likely comes from German/Yiddish words for “five.” “Five spot” and “fiver” are straightforward descriptive terms.
43. Folding Stuff
“Folding stuff” directly describes paper money, the “stuff that folds.” It’s a casual and slightly dismissive way to refer to cash.
44. Franklins
Back to Benjamin Franklin, “Franklins” is another synonym for $100 bills, reinforcing his iconic status on US currency.
45. Frogskin
“Frogskin” is an archaic term for dollar bills, possibly related to “greenbacks” and the color of early US currency.
46. Funds
“Funds” is a general term for money resources, often used in a slightly more formal or bureaucratic context, even when used informally.
47. G
Short for “grand,” “G” represents $1,000. Five “G” is $5,000. It’s a concise and widely used abbreviation.
48. Gelt
“Gelt” is Yiddish for “gold,” often associated with Hanukkah gelt (chocolate coins) or money gifts, carrying a cultural and festive connotation.
49. Gold
“Gold,” the precious metal, is a classic and universally understood metaphor for wealth and money.
50. Gouda
Rapper E-40 popularized “gouda” as slang for money, linking it to other food-related terms like “cheddar” and “cheese” in his song “Gouda.”
A “stack” of cash, often used when referring to large sums of money.
51. Grand
“Grand” is another term for $1,000, possibly originating in mob slang in the early 20th century, when $1,000 was a truly “grand” sum.
52. Grant
“Grant” refers to a $50 bill, featuring President Ulysses S. Grant. It’s a specific denomination slang.
53. Grease
“Grease” implies money used as a bribe or to facilitate something illicit, as in “greasing someone’s palm” or “greasing the wheels.”
54 & 55. Green & Greenbacks
“Green” and “greenbacks” refer to the color of US currency. “Greenbacks” specifically recalls Civil War-era currency with green backs, and “green” is a general color-based slang.
56. Guap
“Guap” (pronounced like “gwop”) refers to a large amount of money, often used in hip-hop and street slang.
57. Gwala
Similar to “guap” and “gwop,” “gwala” signifies a stack of cash, emphasizing quantity and physical presence of money.
58. Gwop
“Gwop” is an acronym for “George Washington On Paper,” referring to the one-dollar bill. It’s a more literal and slightly less common slang.
59. Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton, despite not being a president, graces the $10 bill. “Hamilton” is thus slang for ten-dollar bills.
60. Jackson
Andrew Jackson is featured on the $20 bill, making “Jackson” slang for twenty-dollar bills.
61. K
“K” is the abbreviation for “kilo,” meaning thousand. 500K is $500,000. It’s a common abbreviation in finance and general conversation.
62. Large
Similar to “grand,” “large” is another synonym for $1,000.
63 & 64. Lettuce & Long Green
“Lettuce” and “long green” continue the green vegetable metaphor for money, with “long green” emphasizing the elongated shape of banknotes.
65. Loot
“Loot” implies money, often with connotations of being gained illicitly or as treasure, derived from the idea of plundering or stealing.
66. Lucci
“Lucci” is a rapper-favored term for money, possibly slang for “lucre,” but its exact origin is unclear. It has an Italian-sounding and somewhat glamorous feel.
67. Lucre
“Lucre,” often in the phrase “filthy lucre,” refers to money, often with a negative connotation of greed or ill-gotten gains.
68. M
“M” usually signifies “million” when talking about money, despite “M” being 1000 in Roman numerals. $3M is $3,000,000. Context is crucial.
69. MM (or MN)
“MM” or “MN” are banking abbreviations for “millions,” used in financial contexts to denote large sums.
70. Mil
“Mil” is a common abbreviation for “million” dollars, shorter and more casual than “million.”
71. Moola (or Moolah)
“Moola” or “moolah” is an older, more whimsical slang term for money, with uncertain origins, dating back to the 1930s.
72. Nickel
“Nickel” refers to the five-cent coin, but slang use can mean $5 or $500, especially in gambling or drug contexts, where amounts are often discussed in multiples of five.
73. Nuggets
“Nuggets” as slang for money likely refers to gold nuggets, evoking images of the gold rush and preciousness.
74. Ones
“Ones” simply means one-dollar bills, emphasizing the smallest denomination of US paper currency.
75. Paper
“Paper” refers to paper money, banknotes, in contrast to coins. “Chasing paper” is a common phrase about pursuing wealth.
76. Pesos
“Pesos,” the currency of Mexico and other countries, can be used in American slang to refer to dollars, sometimes playfully or when discussing international finance.
77. [Originally missing – assumed to be removed intentionally]
78. Quid (UK)
“Quid” is the primary UK slang term for a pound sterling. Its origins are debated but it’s been used since the late 17th century.
79. Rack
“Rack” refers to $1,000 or more in cash, often emphasizing a substantial amount readily available.
80. Resources
“Resources” is a more formal and understated way to refer to money, often used when discussing availability or limitations of funds.
81. Riches
“Riches” implies a large amount of money and wealth, often used when wanting to sound affluent or when referring to great fortunes.
82. Salad
“Salad,” combining various vegetable-money slangs (lettuce, cabbage, celery), is another food-based term for money, perhaps representing a “mixed” sum.
83. Sawbucks
“Sawbucks” refers to ten-dollar bills. The term comes from the “sawhorse” resemblance of the Roman numeral “X” (for 10) on older ten-dollar bills.
84. Scratch
“Scratch” has been slang for money since the early 20th century. Its origin is unclear, possibly related to “starting from scratch” and money being a starting point.
85. Shekels
“Shekels” is a biblical currency, also used in modern Israel. In slang, it can refer to money in general, sometimes with a humorous or slightly exotic tone.
86. Simoleon
“Simoleon” is old-timey American gangster slang for “dollar,” evoking a retro, perhaps prohibition-era feel.
87. Skrilla (or Scrilla or Scrill)
“Skrilla” (and variations) is a 1990s rap-originated slang term for money or cash, origin unknown but firmly embedded in hip-hop lexicon.
88. Smackers
“Smackers” is East Coast slang for dollars, often used by older generations, especially in betting contexts, implying a sum substantial enough to “smack” someone with.
89. Spondulix
“Spondulix” (and many variant spellings) is a 19th-century term for money, now somewhat archaic but adding a vintage touch. “Spondoolies” is a hipper variation.
90. Stacks
“Stacks,” like “racks,” refers to $1,000, emphasizing bundles of banknotes and large amounts of cash.
91. Stash
“Stash” refers to money hidden away, often implying secrecy or savings.
92. Tamales
“Tamales” was once slang for dollars, but is now largely obsolete, a linguistic curiosity.
93. Ten Spot
“Ten spot” is a straightforward term for a ten-dollar bill.
94. Tender
“Tender” is shortened from “legal tender,” referring to money as officially recognized currency, often used in slightly formal or legalistic contexts.
95. Tenners
“Tenners” is simply plural for ten-dollar bills, like “Can I get two tenners for a twenty?”
96. Treasure
“Treasure” is a classic metaphor for money, especially when viewed as something valuable and sought-after, often with a playful or adventurous tone.
97. Wad
“Wad” describes a thick roll of cash, emphasizing volume and quantity of banknotes.
98. Wampum
“Wampum,” polished shells used as currency by Native Americans, was once slang for money, but now more often refers to marijuana. Language evolves!
99. Wonga (UK)
“Wonga” is UK slang for money, originating from a Romani word for “coal,” another historical slang term for money in Britain.
100. Yaper
“Yaper” usually refers to drug money, a more specific and niche slang term within illicit contexts.
101. Yard
“Yard” typically means $100, but can also, in some financial circles, mean $1 billion. Context is crucial for this potentially confusing term!
Mendy Shlomo, an expert in eCommerce and content marketing.
Money is indeed a universal language, but slang adds local dialects and cultural nuances to how we talk about it. From food metaphors to historical references, these slang terms for money reveal fascinating aspects of our relationship with finance. So next time you hear someone talking about “Benjamins,” “bucks,” or “dosh,” you’ll be in the know, understanding not just the words, but the rich cultural history they carry.
