Latin American Currencies in Spanish

Heading to Latin America but not sure what currency your amigos latinos use?

In this episode of Speaking Spanish for Beginners, you’ll learn the names of currencies in Spanish-speaking countries across Latin America.

It’s a great opportunity to expand your money-related vocabulary in Spanish and get some helpful insights into what to expect when visiting our region.

¡Vamos!

El Peso: The Most Popular Currency

Did you know that seven Latin American countries call their currency “el peso”?

Since peso is a masculine noun, the currency’s name is paired with the masculine form of the nationality adjective.

Here’s a quick rundown of the countries that use el peso:

• México 🇲🇽: Peso mexicano
• Argentina 🇦🇷: Peso argentino
• Chile 🇨🇱: Peso chileno
• Uruguay 🇺🇾: Peso uruguayo
• Colombia 🇨🇴: Peso colombiano
• Cuba 🇨🇺: Peso cubano
• República Dominicana 🇩🇴: Peso dominicano

Countries That Don’t Use El Peso

Now, let’s look at the other currencies in Spanish-speaking countries:

• Costa Rica 🇨🇷: Colón costarricense
• Perú 🇵🇪: Sol
• Guatemala 🇬🇹: Quetzal
• Venezuela 🇻🇪: Bolívar
• Paraguay 🇵🇾: Guaraní
• Bolivia 🇧🇴: Boliviano
• Honduras 🇭🇳: Lempira
• Nicaragua 🇳🇮: Córdoba

Three Countries That Use the American Dollar

There are three countries where you won’t need to worry about currency exchange rates because the US dollar is widely used. These countries are:

• Ecuador 🇪🇨: The American dollar is the official currency.
• El Salvador 🇸🇻: The dollar is used alongside bitcoin, which is the official currency.
• Panamá 🇵🇦: Both the dollar and el balboa are in circulation.

An Important Thing to Know About Prices in Latin America

When visiting Latin America, you might be surprised by how large the numbers are on receipts—often in the thousands!

For example, two US dollars can equal:

• 1,800 Chilean pesos
• 1,940 Argentine pesos
• 8,700 Colombian pesos

Note: Values calculated in October 2024.

That’s why learning big numbers in Spanish is so useful before your trip.

A good SPANISH TUTOR can definitely help you get the hang of it!

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Learn How to Pay in Spanish