Spanish word

céntimo

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈθentimo/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncent

Example

Tengo dos céntimos en el bolsillo.

I've got two cents in my pocket.

Illustration for céntimo (cent)

More examples

Guarda cada céntimo para el viaje.

Save every cent for the trip.

Core concept

One one-hundredth part of a currency unit.

Common phrases

  • ahorrar céntimos

    save up cents

  • unos céntimos

    some cents

  • cada céntimo

    every cent

Similar words

centavo: One one-hundredth share of a currency unit, the usual small unit in much of Latin America.
billete: Paper money in the form of a banknote issued by a state or bank for everyday payments.

Definition in Spanish

Unidad monetaria que equivale a la centésima parte de la unidad principal de una moneda, es decir, 1/100.

Word origin

From French centime and ultimately from medieval Latin centesimus meaning 'hundredth,' used to name the 1/100 monetary unit.

Usage tips

  • In Spain céntimo commonly names euro cents, while in much of Latin America centavo is the usual term, so céntimo can sound regionally specific.

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