lira
/ˈli.ra/feminine
The English phrase pound can be translated into Italian as lira or sterlina, depending on whether you are referring to historical currency or the British pound. Wiktionary also lists lira sterlina.
Meaning: unit of currency (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lira | /ˈli.ra/ | feminine |
| lira sterlina | /ˈli.ra sterˈli.na/ (word by word) | |
| sterlina | /sterˈli.na/ |
In Italian, the translation for pound depends entirely on the context. Use lira when referring to the historical unit of currency used in Italy before the adoption of the Euro. Use sterlina when referring to the British pound.
Which one should you use?
The word lira refers specifically to the historical Italian lira. In contrast, sterlina refers to the British pound. You may also see the phrase lira sterlina to denote the British pound.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word sterlina is a feminine noun, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form. The form lira is also a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈli.ra/. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- While lira refers to money, it is a homonym for the lira meaning a lyre, the ancient stringed instrument used in Greek poetry.
- Even after Italy adopted the Euro in 2002, many Italians continued to express prices in lira for years to better grasp the value of expensive items.
- While 'pound' in English can refer to a weight or a currency, the Italian sterlina is strictly used for the currency and cannot be used to describe a unit of weight.
Examples in context
- Il prezzo di quell'oggetto è di 50 sterline.The price of that item is 50 pounds.
- Il pacco pesa 2,5 libbre.The package weighs 2.5 pounds.
- Vorrei cambiare 100 sterline in euro.I would like to exchange 100 pounds into euros.
- Una sterlina vale più di una lira.One pound is worth more than one lira.
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are planning a trip to London.
- FrancescoQuante lire ci servono per il viaggio?How many pounds do we need for the trip?
- GiuliaPenso che cento lire siano sufficienti.I think one hundred pounds are enough.
- FrancescoIl cambio della lira è molto alto oggi.The exchange rate for the pound is very high today.
- GiuliaSì, è meglio cambiare i soldi ora.Yes, it is better to change the money now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pound” translations and entries lira, lira sterlina, sterlina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (lira, sterlina) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lira, sterlina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
