dinero
/diˈneɾo/
dinero is the Spanish word for money.
The word dinero means money. For example, the phrase tener dinero is the standard way to express being wealthy or having financial means.
Which one should you use?
While dinero refers to the concept of money or wealth, monedas refers specifically to coins and billetes refers to paper bills.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, people commonly use the term guita for money. In Mexico, lana is a common slang term for money. The slang term pasta is used for money in Spain and some Latin American countries.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun dinero is masculine and is almost always used with the definite article el when referring to money in a general sense.
How do you pronounce it?
/diˈneɾo/
Did you know?
- The Spanish phrase está sin blanca is used to say someone has no dinero, referring to the 'blanca', a small silver coin used centuries ago.
- While dinero is the standard term, some regions use plata to refer to money, which literally translates to 'silver'.
- The current spelling of dinero was influenced by the Byzantine Greek word dinárion, which changed the Latin vowel sound.
Examples in context
- He utilizado mis ahorros para comprar el cocheI used my savings to buy the car
- No tengo suficiente pasta para ir de vacaciones este añoI don't have enough money to go on vacation this year
- Se gastó toda la lana en la fiestaHe spent all the money on the party
- ¡Cuidado, ese billete es falso!Be careful, that banknote is fake!
- Necesito ahorrar más dinero para comprar un coche nuevoI need to save more money to buy a new car
- No me alcanza la lana para pagar todas las facturas este mesI don't have enough money to pay all the bills this month
- No tengo mucho dinero.I don't have much money.
- ¿Tienes dinero para el café?Do you have money for the coffee?
- Necesito dinero para el viaje.I need money for the trip.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Sofía are talking about their weekend plans.
- Alejandro¿Quieres ir al cine?Do you want to go to the cinema?
- SofíaNo puedo, no tengo dinero.I can't, I don't have money.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, yo pago.Don't worry, I'll pay.
- Sofía¡Muchas gracias, Alejandro!Thank you so much, Alejandro!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dinero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dinero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
