el cambio
neutral
The money you get back after paying is el cambio in most places. In much of South America people say el vuelto and in Spain las vueltas is also heard. It is also called suelto.
Meaning: coins or money returned after a payment (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| el cambio | neutral |
| el vuelto | Latin America |
| las vueltas | Spain, Mexico |
| suelto | small coins |
In a shop you can ask ¿Tiene cambio? to find out whether the seller has small bills or coins. Quédese con el cambio means keep the change.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Vuelto is common in Argentina, Chile, Peru and other South American countries. Cambio is understood everywhere.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Cambio also means change in the sense of a difference, so un cambio de planes is a change of plans.
Did you know?
- The phrase sencillo is also used for small change in Mexico, as in ¿Tiene sencillo?
Examples in context
- ¿Tiene cambio de cien pesos?Do you have change for a hundred pesos?
- Me dio mal el vuelto.He gave me the wrong change.
- Quédese con el cambio.Keep the change.
Example conversation
Diego pays for a coffee with a large bill at a kiosk.
- DiegoBuenos días. ¿Tiene cambio de cincuenta?Good morning. Do you have change for fifty?
- VendedoraSí, aquí tiene su vuelto.Yes, here is your change.
- DiegoGracias.Thank you.
