pecunia
[pɛˈkuː.ni.a]feminine
Money in Latin is pecunia. If unsure, use pecunia. Wiktionary also lists pecūnia.
Meaning: currency (noun)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pecunia | [pɛˈkuː.ni.a] (Classical Latin, narrow) [peˈkuː.ni.a] (narrow) |
feminine |
| pecūnia | feminine |
pecunia is the general word for money. Church Latin uses it the same way as Classical Latin, and nummus, a word for a coin, also appears there.
What does it mean word for word?
pecunia is related to pecus, cattle, from the time when wealth was counted in livestock.
Which one should you use?
pecūnia is the same word with the long u marked. Dictionaries mark the long vowel, while most texts leave the mark out.
How does it change in a sentence?
As the object of a verb, such as having or spending money, it becomes pecuniam. For of money it becomes pecuniae.
Did you know?
- The English word 'pecuniary', meaning relating to money, is a direct descendant of pecunia.
- While pecunia refers to money in general, the word nummus specifically refers to a single coin, a distinction that persists in some modern Romance languages.
- The word pecunia is derived from an ancient adjective meaning 'having cattle'.
Examples in context
- Sī pecūniam habērem, pānem emerem.If I had money, I would buy bread.pecūniam is the object form, used here after the verb for to have.
- Ubi est pecunia tua?Where's your money?pecunia tua means your money.Tatoeba #3651607 by soweli_Elepanto, translation #1579451 by fanty
- Pecunia iis opus est.They need the money.Pecunia with opus est says that money is needed.Tatoeba #11760413 by soridsolid, translation #1829646 by Spamster
- Ego multam pecuniam habeo.I have a lot of money.
- Ille homo divitiis et pecunia abundat.That man is rich in wealth and money.
- Mihi plus nummorum opus est.I need more money.
- Non habeo tantos nummos.I don't have that much money.
- Facilius est mihi pecuniolam commodare.It's easier for me to lend a small amount of money.
- Pecuniola mihi deficit.I'm short of money.
- 322 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucius and Julia are discussing the price of a gift.
- LuciusHaec donum carissimum est.This gift is very expensive.
- JuliaSed ego non habeo pecuniam.But I do not have the money.
- LuciusEgo pecuniam dare possum.I can give the money.
- JuliaGratias tibi ago, Luci.I thank you, Lucius.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “money” translations and entries pecunia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pecunia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
