euro

euro — noun

IPA/ˈjʊərəʊ/
KK[jˈʊro]IPA/ˈjʊrəʊ/
  • eurosingular
  • eurosplural

1. the main form of money used by people and businesses in most countries that belo

1.nounA2
Definition

the main form of money used by people and businesses in most countries that belong to the European Union, divided into 100 cents

Example

Kenji paid fifty euros for the concert tickets yesterday evening.

countable: [number] + euros after a price or payment

The hotel room cost one hundred and twenty euros per night during the festival.

pattern: cost + [number] + euros

Common collocations
  • pay in euros
  • cost [number] euros
  • euro coin / euro banknote
  • [number]-euro note

Grammar Patterns

[number] + euro(s)

pay + in + euros

Usage Note

The plural form is usually 'euros', though 'euro' can also appear as an invariable plural in financial contexts (e.g. '100 euro').

Common Mistakes

The ticket costs 50 euro cent.
The ticket costs 50 euro cents.
'cent' takes plural -s like 'euro' does in everyday use.
I have three euros coins.
I have three one-euro coins.
use the compound form with a hyphen when 'euro' acts as a modifier before 'coin'.

2. the price of the euro in relation to other national currencies, used by banks an

2.nounB1
Definition

the price of the euro in relation to other national currencies, used by banks and traders as a benchmark in global markets

Example

After the European Central Bank cut its main interest rate, the euro fell sharply against the dollar.

pattern: the euro + verb + against + [currency]

Isabela checked the euro exchange rate online before booking her flight to Seoul.

collocation: euro exchange rate

Common collocations
  • euro exchange rate
  • the euro rises / falls / strengthens / weakens
  • against the euro
  • euro zone
Synonyms
  • single currency

    used specifically when talking about the euro as the shared money of EU countries, more formal

Grammar Patterns

the euro + verb (rise/fall/strengthen)

the euro against [currency]

Usage Note

In this sense 'the euro' is treated as a singular mass noun — it refers to the currency system as a whole, not individual coins or notes. Distinguish from sense 1 (CURRENCY UNIT), where 'euro' is countable and refers to specific amounts of money.

Common Mistakes

I bought three euros of apples.
I bought three euros' worth of apples.
for a specific amount, use the possessive or 'worth of'; for the currency system use 'the euro' as a singular concept.

euro — adjective

euro — prefix

IPA/jʊə.rəʊ-/
KK[jˈʊro]IPA/jʊr.oʊ-/

Word family

  • Eurozone
    nounB1
  • eurocentric
    adjectiveC1
  • eurosceptic
    nounC1
  • eurocrat
    nounC2
  • Eurobond
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

The euro, dollar, yen, and sterling are the four most widely traded currencies in global foreign-exchange markets. The euro (used by 20 EU countries) functions both as a national currency for everyday transactions and as a reserve currency held by central banks worldwide. The US dollar is the dominant global benchmark — most commodities are priced in dollars, and the euro's strength is most commonly measured 'against the dollar'. The yen is a key Asian currency whose value is often compared with the euro in international trade contexts. Sterling (the British pound) operates outside the Eurozone and its exchange rate against the euro is closely watched by UK businesses trading with mainland Europe. When discussing exchange rates, 'the euro fell against the dollar' means one euro buys fewer dollars than before; conversely, 'the euro strengthened against the yen' means it buys more yen.

euro ↗dollar ↗yensterling ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • euro area
  • euro currency
  • euro exchange rate

Prepositions

  • in euros
  • against the euro
  • per euro

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'euro' is a shortening of 'Europe', which traces back through Latin 'Europa' to the ancient Greek Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē), the name of a mythological Phoenician princess. The currency was adopted as the official name in 1995 by the European Council in Madrid. Electronic transactions in euros began on 1 January 1999, and physical euro coins and banknotes entered circulation on 1 January 2002, replacing the national currencies of twelve founding EU member states.