no se acepta efectivo
/no se aθebta efeɡtibo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'no cash' is used in Spanish as no se acepta efectivo, which functions as a notice to indicate that a business does not accept cash payments.
no se acepta efectivo is typically used as a formal notice on signs in shops, restaurants or vending machines. You may also see the common alternative sign solo tarjeta, which means 'card only'. While the phrase in the title is for business notices, if you personally want to say 'I don't have cash', you can use No tengo efectivo or use the slang terms No tengo plata or No tengo lana. Additionally, No tengo billete can be used to mean 'I don't have any bills' and in some Latin American countries, no tengo feria is used to mean 'I don't have money'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase no se acepta efectivo literally translates to 'cash is not accepted'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase no tengo feria is used in some Latin American countries to mean 'I don't have money'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase no se acepta efectivo uses the impersonal 'se' construction. This is the standard way in Spanish to express that an action is not permitted or is not performed by anyone in general.
How do you pronounce it?
/no se aθebta efeɡtibo/
Did you know?
- While efectivo is the formal word for 'cash', the slang term lana literally means 'wool'. This stems from the historical value of wool as a primary commodity and currency in colonial Mexico.
- The term plata for money comes from the Spanish word for 'silver'. This refers to the Spanish Empire's massive mining of silver in the Americas, which dominated the global economy for centuries.
- In some Latin American countries, feria is used to mean 'money'. In a standard dictionary, feria typically means 'fair' or 'market', reflecting the places where coins were once most frequently exchanged.
Examples in context
- Lo siento, aquí no se acepta efectivo.I'm sorry, cash is not accepted here.
- He visto un cartel que dice que no se acepta efectivo.I saw a sign that says cash is not accepted.
- En esta tienda no se acepta efectivo, solo tarjeta.In this shop cash is not accepted, only card.
Example conversation
Daniel tries to pay for a coffee with bills at a cafe.
- LucíaHola, Daniel. Aquí no se acepta efectivo.Hello, Daniel. Cash is not accepted here.
- Daniel¿De verdad? Solo tengo billetes.Really? I only have bills.
- LucíaSí, Lucía te dice que uses una tarjeta.Yes, Lucía is telling you to use a card.
- DanielEstá bien, buscaré mi tarjeta en la cartera.Alright, I will look for my card in my wallet.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
