Top 50 phrases Brits use to describe money - and the ones at risk of dying out
A new study has revealed the most popular slang terms for money used by various generations, with some phrases more widely recognised than others.
As methods of payment continue to evolve, so does the language Brits use to describe money according to a new survey. The survey of 2,000 adults revealed that Gen Z is the most likely generation to use slang terms, with 58% adopting new phrases, compared to a mere 19% of Boomers.
While Boomers currently refer to money as ' cash ', a third think this particular word will eventually become obsolete. Traditional phrases such as 'lolly', 'shekels' and 'folding green' are frequently used by those over 65, but are rarely recognised or used by Gen Z or Millennials. Instead, terms like 'stacks' and 'P's' are more common.
Despite the rise of cashless payments, 71% of Brits agree that the decline of cash is not inevitable, with 82% believing it's crucial to have it readily available.
Ross Borkett, banking director at Post Office, which commissioned the research, stated: "Money, how we talk about it and how we use it, has always been a unique part of British culture. Such a wide range of phrases are being used for money, showing how entrenched cash still is within our society.
"Whether you need money to pay the window cleaner or own a local shop and need to deposit your daily takings, we believe cash matters, and it seems so does the public. "
"While we're seeing a shift towards contactless and digital payments, this research highlights that Brits still find value in having access to cash - whether they call it 'quid' or 'coin'."
The research also discovered that your location can influence your cash vocabulary. For instance, 'dosh' is most commonly used in the North East, while 'bread' is a term favoured by those in the South East. In Northern Ireland, 'bank' and 'moolah' are popular terms.
This has led to over a quarter of Brits travelling to a different part of the UK and encountering an unfamiliar term for cash. Meanwhile, Parents and friends are common sources for picking up these unique phrases.
Dr Lynn Robson, lecturer in English Literature at Oxford University, said: 'As money has evolved from shells and coins to plastic and digital forms, so too has the language we use to describe it.
'Despite the changes in how we pay for things, 'cash' - which has been used in our language for over 500 years - is still the most popular word for money.
'When it comes to the language of money, there are many cultural influences that can move phrases from the margins to mainstream culture.
'For example, sayings like 'loot' are infiltrating conversations due to the popularity of games like Minecraft, but it is still those closest to us which have the greatest impact on our language.'
Top British terms for money:
Cash
Quid
Fiver
Tenner
Coin
Notes
Change
Dosh
Grand (or G - £1000)
Dough
Funds
Bucks
Bills
Coppers
Bank
Loot
Ton (£100)
Brass
Bread
Readies
Wonga
Lolly
Moolah
Pony (£25)
Monkey (£500)
Shrapnel
Smackers
Wedge
Score
Peanuts
Spondulicks (or Spondoolies)
Squids
Plastic
Paper
Shekels
Greenbacks
Stacks
Green
Foldin' stuff
Bob
Benjamins
Crust
Ching
Large
Cheddar
Beans
Folding green
Bangers and mash
P's
Racks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
32 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Queen beats Rihanna and Oasis to nation's top song for drive to work
Music has the ultimate feel-good factor, with 99% of Brits saying that starting the morning with a good tune has a positive impact on the rest of the day. Many also agree it's a real mood booster, according to the poll conducted by EDF. More than nine out of 10 Brits (93%) try to make their journey to work more fun with most admitting that the wrong music, stopping for petrol, or worse, having to pay for it are high on the list of early morning bugbears. For a 20-mile daily commute, drivers could spend over £560 on diesel across the year. LEIDEN, THE NETHERLANDS - NOV 27, 1980: Queen during a concert in the Groenoordhallen in Leiden in the Netherlands (Image: IMAGO Images / Cover Images) Switching to an electric vehicle (EV) could save Brits £464.64 a year commuting with EDF's GoElectric tariff - Britain's cheapest fixed EV tariff. This means a 20-mile commute can cost as little as 51p when charging using off peak rates. With 71% saying listening to their favourite songs on their way to work puts them in a positive mindset and nearly a third (27%) believing it helps to reduce stress levels before getting to their desks, EDF has compiled Brits' favourite mood-boosting bangers into a 20-track playlist, one song for each mile of their daily commute. Philippe Commaret, managing director of customers at EDF, said 'Our research has shown that people reach for mood-boosting tracks on their journeys to work, not just out of habit but because of the tangible benefits doing so provides daily. 'And when the average commute is 51p, it really is enough to get people bursting into song! 'Whether it's a classic like 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' - my personal favourite for early mornings - or a current chart topper, the right track can transform a commute. 'At EDF, change is in our power, so with our tariff, which is Britain's cheapest fixed EV tariff, customers can switch to EVs saving themselves cash and carbon, whilst travelling to work in the privacy and comfort of their own car too.' To find out more about EDF's GoElectric tariff and to stream the top 20 ultimate commuting tracks for free on Spotify, please visit this link. The top 10 commuting songs are:
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Brits warned of wine shortage as UK bottling factory plans strike this summer
Workers from Encirc site in Bristol, who supply wine to all major UK supermarkets, are set to strike between June 19 and July 5. Those who love a glass of wine at home may be in for some bleak news. Brits are being warned that wine shelves in supermarkets may be left empty this summer due to worker strike action at a UK bottling company. From June 19 until July 5, over 200 Unite members who work in the Encirc site in Avonmouth, Bristol, are planning to strike over pay. As a result, this will have a major impact on production, which will see less bottles of wine on our supermarket shelves. Members involved in the strike are workers from across the factory, with some distributing the alcohol from the site, while others are tasked with bottling and packaging red, rose and white wine. With wine the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK, according to the Mirror, Encirc supplies plonk to all major supermarkets in the country. With a turnover of over £600million, Unite says that Encirc is a "very profitable company" as it supplies a variation of wine packaging, including boxes, bags and bottles. According to Unite, the firm only offered their workers a 3.2 per cent pay rise. This was done without negotiating with Unite and the firm has gone on to repeatedly state that it will only be giving pay rises that are tied to inflation from now on. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Encirc's meanness to its workers is all about greed and not need. This is a very lucrative company that can fully afford to pay its workers properly but it is choosing not to. "Unite will not stand idly by and allow Encric to steal our members hard won rights. Encirc workers deserve better and they have Unite's full support throughout this dispute." Workers from different areas of the business are set to take strike action on different dates and times from June 19 to July 5. This action will have a big impact on production schedules, with the union also saying that a 12-week overtime ban is set to take place. Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: "There is no doubt that this action will hit supermarket shelves. While shortages may be frustrating for customers looking to enjoy a bottle of wine this summer, the situation is entirely of Encirc's own making. "Management has constantly refused to engage meaningfully. Encirc needs to return to the negotiating table with a vastly improved offer." Elsewhere, other forms of strike action are set to take place this summer, with workers from Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports threatening to walk out, which will cause major travel disruption for holiday goers. This is due to workers rejecting "unacceptable" pay offers from their employer Menzies Aviation. From around 300 workers at Glasgow Airport, an astounding 97 per cent voted to reject the proposed deals, with 100 per cent of a similar number of workers at Edinburgh Airport doing the same. Unless Menzies Aviation can present a better offer, the union warns it will be forced to ballot members for strike action, in turn causing havoc for summer travel. Unite industrial officer Carrie Binnie said: "Summer strike action looms over Edinburgh and Glasgow airports because the pay offers on the table from Menzies Aviation aren't good enough." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Where winning £208M EuroMillions ticket was bought as jackpot remains unclaimed
Lottery bosses have finally confirmed where a record-breaking £208 million Euromillions ticket was sold - players in the area have been urged to get in touch 'as soon as possible' A life-changing £208 million Euromillions jackpot has still not been claimed - and people in one lucky area have been urged to check their tickets. One ticket holder scooped the record-breaking rollover prize on Tuesday night's Euromillions draw - but still hasn't come forward to claim it. The player in question now has 90 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize, and has been asked to get in touch as possible. Lottery bosses confirmed that that the winning ticket was bought in a shop, and not online. The winning numbers are: 13, 22, 23, 44, 49 and the Lucky Stars are: 03, 05. The €250 million (£208 million) winner is now confirmed to live in Munster, Ireland. National Lottery spokesperson Emma Moaghan told RTE Radio: "Someone in Ireland is a quarter of a billion euro richer this morning." She confirmed the "eye-watering" prize winning ticket was bought in a shop, as opposed to online or via an app. Adding: "If at all possible stay calm, I know that might be easier said than done. Have a cup of tea and let it sink in." It matches the record sum picked up by one ticket holder in Austria back in March, who correctly picked all the numbers on the first €250 million draw in EuroMillions history. Euromillions jackpot are currently capped at this number, meaning this record is likely to stay in place for some time. Lottery players in Munster, one of Ireland's four provinces, have been reminded to check their tickets. Irish National Lottery chief executive Cian Murphy said: "We are absolutely thrilled to see this incredible and record win for an Irish EuroMillions player. "We are advising our players to check their tickets and if they are the winner, sign the back of the ticket, keep it safe, and contact National Lottery HQ and we will guide you through the claims process," In the UK, the Millionaire Maker Selection winner for Tuesday night's draw was XPCD66044. The biggest-ever win for a British ticket holder came on July 19 2022, when an anonymous player took home a cool £195.7 million. Reacting to news of the €250 million jackpot, certified financial planner Eoin McGee warned the winner to be careful with their spending - and said there is one thing they should be doing first. He told the Irish Mirror: "My advice is do absolutely nothing, except sign the back of the ticket. Ring the Lotto and confirm you have the winning ticket, but then sit back and tell nobody apart from your inner circle. "Don't make any big decisions now. This is life-changing. I tell Lotto winners to remember that the things which made you happy before this win are the same things that are going to make you happy afterwards. "Life will be different, but if you do not manage this properly, it can ruin you. This €250m can ruin you. Be careful about your decisions and any promises you're making. "Even be careful about telling your children how much they're going to get. Make no promises. It is a time of celebration and joy and being happy about it, but in the first six months, do not spend more than €10,000 on any one item."
