moneta
/moˈne.ta/feminine
In Italian, the word for coin is moneta.
The standard and most common way to say coin is moneta. If you are referring to tokens used in specific contexts, such as for phone booths or public transportation, use gettone. If you are talking about small change or loose coins, you can use the colloquial term spiccioli.
Meaning: (currency) a piece of currency (noun)
Which one should you use?
While moneta is the standard term for a piece of currency, soldo is an archaic term that was historically used to refer to small denominations or fractions of the lira. Additionally, gettone refers specifically to tokens used instead of coins.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The slang term grana is used to refer to money in general in certain regions of Italy, most notably in Rome.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word moneta is a feminine noun. Its plural form is monete.
How do you pronounce it?
/moˈne.ta/. The word has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- The word moneta actually shares its roots with the name of the Roman goddess Juno Moneta. She was a protector of the Roman treasury, so her name became permanently linked to the currency she guarded.
- Unlike English, which uses 'change' for both the act of exchanging and the coins received, Italian uses resto for the money returned after a purchase, while spiccioli refers to the coins themselves.
- The word spiccioli for loose change is derived from the verb spicciarsi, which actually means 'to hurry'.
Examples in context
- La moneta è d'oro.The coin is gold.This sentence illustrates how to describe a coin made of gold using moneta.Tatoeba #2836946 by Guybrush88, translation #2836945 by _undertoad
- Mi dia una moneta.Give me a coin.This sentence shows how to request a coin using moneta.Tatoeba #8670224 by Guybrush88, translation #8668676 by ajje
- È una moneta d'oro.That's a gold coin.This sentence shows how to identify a gold coin using moneta.Tatoeba #13295334 by Guybrush88, translation #12705719 by jacoblaguerre
- Costa dieci euro a moneta.It costs ten euros per coin.
- 1,50 euro a gettone. È necessario un gettone per ogni viaggio.1.50 euros per token. One token is required for each journey.
- Hai qualche spicciolo per la macchinetta del caffè?Do you have any loose change for the coffee machine?
- 87 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Chiara are at a vending machine.
- MatteoNon funziona la macchinetta.The machine is not working.
- ChiaraHai una moneta per me, Matteo?Do you have a coin for me, Matteo?
- MatteoSì, ecco una moneta da un euro.Yes, here is a one euro coin.
- ChiaraGrazie, la uso subito.Thanks, I'll use it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “coin” translations and entries moneta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries moneta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
