сте́рлинг
stérlingmasculine
Sterling in Russian is сте́рлинг (stérling). Wiktionary also lists фунт (funt).
Meaning: currency of the United Kingdom, based on the pound sterling, genuine English or British currency, as contrasted with foreign currency (noun)
Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| сте́рлинг | stérling | masculine | |
| фунт | funt | [funt] (narrow) | masculine |
The term refers to the currency of the United Kingdom, based on the pound sterling. Genuine English or British currency, as contrasted with foreign currency.
Which one should you use?
While сте́рлинг refers to the currency unit itself, фунт is the word most commonly used by Russians in everyday conversation to refer to the British pound.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form сте́рлинг is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
stérling
Did you know?
- Unlike in English, where 'sterling' often implies high quality or reliability, the Russian сте́рлинг is strictly a technical term for the currency and lacks that metaphorical 'high quality' connotation.
- The word фунт was borrowed from the German 'Pfund' rather than directly from the English 'pound'.
- While 'sterling' is the formal term, a Russian speaker using сте́рлинг in a casual conversation might sound like a banker or a news anchor rather than a regular person.
Examples in context
- Я хочу обменять мои фунты стерлингов на рубли.I want to exchange my pounds sterling for rubles.
- У меня есть несколько стерлингов, готовы обменять их на доллары?I have a few sterlings, ready to exchange them for dollars?
- Этот банк обменивает сте́рлинг на рубли.Etot bank obmenyayet stêrling na rubli.This bank exchanges sterling for rubles.
Example conversation
Olga and Andrey are planning a trip to London.
- Ольга OlgaАндрей, нам нужно купить сте́рлинг для поездки.Andrey, nam nuzhno kupit sterling dlya poyezdki.Andrey, we need to buy sterling for the trip.
- Андрей AndreyДа, я схожу в банк завтра утром.Da, ya skhozhu v bank zavtra utrom.Yes, I will go to the bank tomorrow morning.
- Ольга OlgaСколько сте́рлингов нам понадобится на неделю?Skolko sterlingov nam ponadobitsya na nedelyu?How many sterlings will we need for the week?
- Андрей AndreyДумаю, пятисот будет вполне достаточно.Dumayu, pyatisot budet vpolne dostatochno.I think five hundred will be quite enough.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sterling” translations and entries фунт, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries фунт, CC BY-SA 4.0.
