How to Talk About Money in English
How to Talk About Money in English
Talking about money is an important part of life.
Whether you’re shopping, saving, or discussing your finances, having the right words and phrases can help you communicate clearly.
In this blog post, I will teach you simple words, phrases, and sentences you can use to talk about money in English.
This guide is perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to improve their vocabulary.
Why Is It Important to Talk About Money?
We talk about money in many situations.
For example:
- Buying food at the market
- Asking about the price of something
- Discussing savings and budgets
- Paying bills
- Planning trips or buying gifts
If you know how to talk about money in English, you will feel more confident when:
Now, let’s learn the most common money words, phrases, and sentences in simple English.
Basic Money Words
Here are some basic English words related to money:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Money | The general word for coins or notes |
| Cash | Money in the form of coins or paper notes |
| Coins | Round pieces of metal money |
| Notes | Paper money |
| Price | The amount of money something costs |
| Bill | A statement of how much you need to pay |
| Salary | Money you earn for working (monthly) |
| Wage | Money you earn for working (weekly) |
| Expense | Money you spend on things |
| Budget | A plan for how to spend your money |
| Debt | Money you owe to someone |
| Loan | Money borrowed that you need to repay |
| Save | To keep money for the future |
| Spend | To use money to buy things |
| Change | Small coins you get back after payment |
Common Money Phrases and Their Uses
Here are some phrases you can use to talk about money in everyday life:
1. Asking About Prices
- “How much does this cost?”
- “What’s the price of this?”
- “Can you tell me how much this is?”
- “How much is it?”
Example Conversation:
- You: “How much does this shirt cost?”
- Shopkeeper: “It costs $20.”
2. Talking About Payment
- “Can I pay by cash or card?”
- “Do you accept credit cards?”
- “I’ll pay with cash.”
- “Here’s your change.”
Example Conversation:
- You: “Can I pay by credit card?”
- Shopkeeper: “Yes, we accept cards.”
3. Talking About Saving Money
- “I’m saving up for a new phone.”
- “I’m trying to save money this month.”
- “I put money in my savings account.”
Example Sentence:
- “I save $50 every month to buy a new laptop.”
4. Talking About Spending Money
Example Sentence:
- “I spent $30 on groceries yesterday.”
5. Talking About Borrowing and Lending
- “Can I borrow some money from you?”
- “I lent my friend $50.”
- “He still owes me $20.”
Example Sentences:
- “I borrowed $200 from the bank.”
- “My brother lent me money to buy a book.”
6. Talking About Budgets
- “I need to stick to my budget.”
- “I’m on a tight budget this month.”
- “I planned a budget for my trip.”
Example Sentences:
7. Talking About Income
Example Sentences:
Common Sentences for Real-Life Situations
Here are some sentences you can use when talking about money in different situations:
At the Store
- “How much does this cost?”
- “Do you have something cheaper?”
- “Can I get a discount?”
- “This is too expensive for me.”
- “I’ll take it.”
At a Restaurant
- “Can we split the bill?” (Divide the bill among people)
- “How much should I pay?”
- “I’ll pay for the meal.”
At the Bank
When Talking About Bills
- “I need to pay my electricity bill.”
- “The water bill is due tomorrow.”
- “How much is the rent this month?”
Common Idioms About Money
Idioms are phrases that have a special meaning.
Here are some common money-related idioms in English:
- “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.”
- “Make ends meet.”
- “On a shoestring budget.”
- “Worth every penny.”
- “Save for a rainy day.”
How to Improve Your Money Vocabulary
Here are some tips to help you improve your money-related English vocabulary:
- Practice Using the Words
- Listen to English Conversations
- Write Sentences
- Learn from Real-Life Situations
- Use a Dictionary
- Look up new words and their meanings.
Practice: Simple Money Conversations
Let’s practice some conversations about money.
You can use these as examples for real life.
Conversation 1: At the Market
- You: “How much is this bag?”
- Shopkeeper: “It’s $15.”
- You: “Do you have anything cheaper?”
- Shopkeeper: “Yes, this one is $10.”
- You: “I’ll take it. Here’s the cash.”
Conversation 2: Saving Money
- Friend: “Are you saving up for something?”
- You: “Yes, I’m saving for a new phone.”
- Friend: “That’s great! How much do you save every month?”
- You: “I save $50 every month.”
Conversation 3: Paying the Bill at a Restaurant
- Waiter: “Here’s your bill. It’s $40.”
- You: “Can we split the bill?”
- Friend: “Yes, let’s pay $20 each.”
- You: “Here’s my cash.”
Final thoughts
Talking about money in English doesn’t have to be difficult.
By learning basic words, phrases, and sentences, you can confidently talk about prices, saving, spending, and payments in any situation.
Here’s a quick summary of what we learned:
- Basic money words like cash, coins, price, save, spend.
- Common phrases for asking prices, saving money, and paying bills.
- Useful idioms like “money doesn’t grow on trees” and “save for a rainy day.”
Practice every day by talking about money in simple sentences.
Soon, you’ll feel comfortable using these words in real-life situations.
Do you know any other money-related phrases or idioms?
Share them in the comments below!
Happy learning!
