¿Y el dinero?
And the money?
This three-word question is what you ask when someone was supposed to bring the money and didn't, and el points to a sum you both know about.
From Babe · Spanish audio
Spanish vocabularyA1 · Beginner
How to say "money" in Spanish
el dinero
nounmasculineuncountable
"Money" in Spanish is el dinero, stressed on the middle syllable: dee-NEH-roh. It's masculine and uncountable, so a lot of money is mucho dinero. In much of Latin America you'll also hear la plata, a word that also means silver.
Hear "dinero" in a real movie scene
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Dinero, plata and other money words
The standard word, two slang words and the words you need to pay.
| Spanish | English | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| el dinero | money | Understood in every Spanish-speaking country. |
| la plata | money (Latin America) | Everyday word in much of South America. It also means silver. |
| la lana | money (Mexico, informal) | Literally wool. Fine with friends, odd in a bank. |
| la pasta | money (Spain, informal) | The same word as the food, used as slang for money. |
| el efectivo | cash | pagar en efectivo means to pay in cash. |
| el cambio | change | ¿Tiene cambio? asks if someone can break a bill. |
Tip: When you're not sure which slang word fits, say dinero. Nobody will find it strange anywhere.
Grammar: el dinero
Four points about a word you'll use at every checkout.
Masculine and singular
It's el dinero, and the verb stays singular: El dinero está en el banco.More or less of it
Use mucho and poco: mucho dinero, a lot of money, poco dinero, not much money. For an exact amount, name the currency: veinte dólares.Drop el for "any"
No hay dinero means there's no money at all. Add el only for a sum you both know about: ¿Y el dinero?Stress the middle
di-NE-ro. The d is soft, and the r is a single quick tap of the tongue.Example sentences
Sentences from the Wordy Spanish course. Tap to listen.
No tiene dinero.
He doesn't have any money.
¡Es mucho dinero!
That's a lot of money!
No hay dinero.
There's no money.
El dinero del cliente está en el banco.
The client's money is in the bank.
Common mistakes
Mistakes learners make with this word, and how to fix them.
✗muchos dineros
✓mucho dinero
Dinero is uncountable, so mucho stays singular too.
✗No tengo el dinero (meaning I'm broke)
✓No tengo dinero
With el, you mean one particular sum, like the rent. Without it, you mean any money at all.
✗hacer dinero (at a job)
✓ganar dinero
The usual verb for earning money is ganar: *Gano poco dinero.*
Practice: 3 quick exercises
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How to remember it
Dinero starts with the sound of dinner. Picture yourself counting coins at the table before you pay for dinner.
Questions about "money" in Spanish
How do you say money in Spanish?
El dinero. In much of Latin America people also say la plata.
Is dinero masculine or feminine?
Masculine: el dinero. It's uncountable, so it stays singular: poco dinero, mucho dinero.
What does plata mean in Spanish?
Plata means silver. In much of Latin America it's also the everyday word for money: No tengo plata.
How do you say cash in Spanish?
El efectivo. To pay in cash is pagar en efectivo.
