Lingo topic · 209 terms
Currencies and pairs
What gets traded in forex: pairs, quotes, majors, crosses and nicknames.
A
- Afghan Afghani (AFN)The official currency of Afghanistan, code AFN, issued by Da Afghanistan Bank.
- Albanian Lek (ALL)The official currency of Albania, code ALL, issued by the Bank of Albania.
- Algerian Dinar (DZD)The official currency of Algeria, code DZD, managed by the Bank of Algeria.
- Angolan Kwanza (AOA)The official currency of Angola, code AOA, issued by the National Bank of Angola.
- AppreciationWhen a currency or asset gains value, so each unit buys more than it did before.
- Argentine Peso (ARS)The official currency of Argentina, code ARS, known for long bouts of high inflation and repeated devaluations.
- Armenian Dram (AMD)The official currency of Armenia, code AMD, issued by the Central Bank of Armenia.
- Aruban Florin (AWG)The currency of Aruba, code AWG, pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 1.79 florins per dollar.
- AUD/USDThe Australian dollar against the US dollar: how many US dollars one Australian dollar buys. Nicknamed the 'Aussie'.
- Australian Dollar (AUD)Australia's currency, code AUD, nicknamed the Aussie, and one of the most traded currencies in the world.
- Azerbaijani Manat (AZN)The official currency of Azerbaijan, code AZN, an oil-linked currency held at a stable level against the US dollar.
B
- Bahamian Dollar (BSD)The currency of the Bahamas, code BSD, pegged one-to-one with the US dollar.
- Bahraini Dinar (BHD)The currency of Bahrain, code BHD, pegged to the US dollar and one of the highest-valued currency units in the world.
- Bangladeshi Taka (BDT)The currency of Bangladesh, code BDT, managed by Bangladesh Bank.
- Barbados Dollar (BBD)The currency of Barbados, code BBD, pegged at two Barbados dollars to one US dollar.
- Base currencyThe first currency in a pair. It is the one you are buying or selling, and the price is always for one unit of it.
- Belarusian Ruble (BYN)The currency of Belarus, code BYN, introduced in 2016 when four zeros were knocked off the old ruble.
- Belize Dollar (BZD)The currency of Belize, code BZD, pegged at two Belize dollars to one US dollar.
- Bermudian Dollar (BMD)The currency of Bermuda, code BMD, pegged one-to-one with the US dollar.
- Beta CurrencyA currency that tends to amplify moves in the wider market or in a related currency, swinging harder than its peers.
- Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)The currency of Bhutan, code BTN, pegged one-to-one with the Indian rupee.
- Bolivian Boliviano (BOB)The currency of Bolivia, code BOB, held for years at a fixed official rate against the US dollar.
- Botswana Pula (BWP)The currency of Botswana, code BWP, managed against a basket that includes the South African rand.
- Brazilian Real (BRL)Brazil's currency, code BRL, a volatile emerging-market currency often traded for its high interest rates.
- British Pound (GBP)The UK's currency, code GBP, also called sterling, and one of the most traded currencies in the world.
- Bulgarian Lev (BGN)Bulgaria's former currency, code BGN, which was tied to the euro and then replaced by it at the start of 2026.
- Burundian Franc (BIF)The currency of Burundi, code BIF, issued by the Bank of the Republic of Burundi.
C
- CableTrader slang for the GBP/USD pair, from the transatlantic telegraph cable that once carried its price.
- Cambodian Riel (KHR)The currency of Cambodia, code KHR, used alongside the US dollar in daily life.
- Canadian Dollar (CAD)Canada's currency, code CAD, nicknamed the loonie after the bird on its one-dollar coin.
- Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)The currency of Cape Verde, code CVE, pegged to the euro.
- Cayman Islands Dollar (KYD)The currency of the Cayman Islands, code KYD, pegged so that one Cayman dollar equals 1.20 US dollars.
- CFA FrancTwo currencies used by fourteen African countries, the West African (XOF) and Central African (XAF) francs, both pegged to the euro.
- CFP Franc (XPF)The currency of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, code XPF, pegged to the euro.
- Chilean Peso (CLP)Chile's currency, code CLP, which often moves with the price of copper.
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)China's currency, code CNY. 'Renminbi' is the currency's name; 'yuan' is its unit.
- Colombian Peso (COP)Colombia's currency, code COP, which often moves with oil prices.
- ComdollTrader slang for the 'commodity dollars': the Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars.
- Commodity CurrencyThe currency of a country that earns much of its income exporting raw materials, so it tends to move with commodity prices.
- Comorian Franc (KMF)The currency of the Comoros, code KMF, pegged to the euro.
- Congolese Franc (CDF)The currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, code CDF.
- Conversion RateThe rate used to turn an amount in one currency into another, for example to show profits in your account currency.
- CorrelationHow closely two prices move together, measured from −1 (always opposite) through 0 (unrelated) to +1 (always together).
- Costa Rican Colón (CRC)The currency of Costa Rica, code CRC, named after Christopher Columbus (Colón in Spanish).
- Croatian Kuna (HRK)Croatia's former currency, code HRK, replaced by the euro on 1 January 2023.
- Cross RateAn exchange rate between two currencies where neither is the US dollar, such as EUR/GBP or AUD/JPY.
- Cuban Peso (CUP)Cuba's currency, code CUP, which became the country's only official currency in 2021.
- CurrencyA country's or region's money, such as the dollar, euro or yen.
- Currency BasketA weighted mix of several currencies treated as one, used to peg a currency or to measure one's overall strength.
- Currency CodeThe three-letter code for each currency, like USD, EUR or JPY, defined by the international standard ISO 4217.
- Currency DevaluationA deliberate official cut in the value of a currency that is pegged or managed.
- Currency Exchange ControlsGovernment limits on buying, selling or moving foreign currency in and out of a country.
- Currency pairTwo currencies quoted against each other, like EUR/USD, showing how much of the second it takes to buy one unit of the first.
- Currency PegA policy of fixing a currency's value to another currency, a basket or gold, defended by the central bank.
- Cypriot Pound (CYP)Cyprus's former currency, code CYP, replaced by the euro in 2008.
- Czech Koruna (CZK)The currency of the Czech Republic, code CZK, which floats freely.
D
- Danish Krone (DKK)Denmark's currency, code DKK, kept in a narrow band around a fixed rate to the euro.
- DepreciationWhen a currency loses value against others because of market forces, so each unit buys less.
- Direct QuotationAn exchange rate shown as how much home currency it takes to buy one unit of a foreign currency.
- Dirty FloatAn exchange rate that mostly floats, but with the central bank stepping in now and then to steer it.
- Djiboutian Franc (DJF)The currency of Djibouti, code DJF, pegged to the US dollar for decades.
- Dominican Peso (DOP)The currency of the Dominican Republic, code DOP.
E
- East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)The shared currency of several Eastern Caribbean islands, code XCD, pegged at 2.70 to the US dollar.
- Egyptian Pound (EGP)Egypt's currency, code EGP, which has gone through several sharp devaluations as authorities loosened control of its rate.
- Emerging MarketAn economy that is growing and industrialising but is not yet considered fully developed, such as Brazil, India or South Africa.
- Eritrean Nakfa (ERN)The currency of Eritrea, code ERN, pegged to the US dollar.
- Estonian Kroon (EEK)Estonia's former currency, code EEK, replaced by the euro in 2011.
- Eswatini LilangeniThe currency of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
- Ethiopian Birr (ETB)Ethiopia's currency, code ETB, which moved to a market-based rate in 2024 after years of tight control.
- EUR/USDThe euro against the US dollar: how many dollars one euro buys. The most traded currency pair in the world.
- Euro (EUR)The shared currency of the eurozone countries, code EUR, and the second most traded currency in the world.
- European Currency UnitA basket of European currencies used as an accounting unit from 1979 to 1998, the forerunner of the euro.
- EurozoneThe group of EU countries that use the euro as their currency.
- Exchange rateThe price of one currency in terms of another: how much of the quote currency one unit of the base currency costs.
- Exotic pairsPairs that match a major currency with one from a smaller or emerging economy, such as USD/TRY or EUR/ZAR.
F
- Falkland Islands Pound (FKP)The currency of the Falkland Islands, code FKP, held at par with the British pound.
- Fiat MoneyMoney that has value because a government declares it legal tender and people trust it, not because it is backed by gold.
- Fijian Dollar (FJD)The currency of Fiji, code FJD, managed against a basket of its trading partners' currencies.
- Fixed Exchange RateAn exchange rate system where a government holds its currency at a set value against another currency, a basket or gold.
- Floating Exchange RateAn exchange rate set by supply and demand in the market, without a government target.
- Forex Spot RateThe current exchange rate for swapping currencies now, with standard settlement in two business days for most pairs.
G
- Gambian Dalasi (GMD)The currency of The Gambia, code GMD.
- GBP/USDThe British pound against the US dollar: how many dollars one pound buys. Nicknamed 'Cable'.
- Georgian Lari (GEL)The currency of Georgia, code GEL, issued by the National Bank of Georgia.
- Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)Ghana's currency, now code GHS. The old code GHC was retired in 2007 when four zeros were removed.
- Gibraltar Pound (GIP)The currency of Gibraltar, code GIP, held at par with the British pound.
- Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)The currency of Guatemala, code GTQ, named after the country's national bird.
- Guernsey Pound (GGP)The local currency of Guernsey, a British Crown dependency, held at par with the British pound.
- Guinean Franc (GNF)The currency of Guinea, code GNF.
- Guyanese Dollar (GYD)The currency of Guyana, code GYD, kept stable against the US dollar.
H
- Haitian Gourde (HTG)The currency of Haiti, code HTG.
- Honduran Lempira (HNL)The currency of Honduras, code HNL, named after an Indigenous leader who resisted Spanish conquest.
- Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)Hong Kong's currency, code HKD, kept within a tight band of 7.75 to 7.85 per US dollar.
- Hungarian Forint (HUF)Hungary's currency, code HUF, a floating Central European currency usually traded against the euro.
I
- Icelandic Króna (ISK)Iceland's currency, code ISK, famous for its collapse during Iceland's 2008 banking crisis.
- Indian Rupee (INR)India's currency, code INR, managed by the Reserve Bank of India, which intervenes often to smooth its moves.
- Indirect QuoteAn exchange rate shown as how much foreign currency one unit of your home currency buys.
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)Indonesia's currency, code IDR, a managed emerging-market currency with very large unit numbers.
- Iranian Rial (IRR)Iran's currency, code IRR, heavily weakened by sanctions and inflation, with a gap between official and street rates.
- Iraqi Dinar (IQD)Iraq's currency, code IQD, managed against the US dollar and backed by oil revenue.
- Isle of Man Pound (IMP)The local currency of the Isle of Man, held at par with the British pound.
- Israeli New Shekel (ILS)Israel's currency, code ILS, a floating currency closely tied to the country's tech sector and security situation.
J
- Jamaican Dollar (JMD)Jamaica's currency, code JMD, a floating currency managed by the Bank of Jamaica.
- Japanese Yen (JPY)Japan's currency, code JPY, the third most traded currency, known as a safe haven and a classic carry-trade funding currency.
- Jordanian Dinar (JOD)Jordan's currency, code JOD, pegged to the US dollar at about 0.709 dinars per dollar.
K
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)Kazakhstan's currency, code KZT, an oil-linked currency that has been allowed to float since 2015.
- Kenyan Shilling (KES)Kenya's currency, code KES, issued by the Central Bank of Kenya.
- Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)Kuwait's currency, code KWD, pegged to a basket of currencies and usually the world's highest-valued currency unit.
- Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS)Kyrgyzstan's currency, code KGS, issued by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic.
L
- Lao Kip (LAK)The currency of Laos, code LAK, which weakened sharply in the early 2020s amid debt troubles.
- Latvian Lats (LVL)Latvia's former currency, code LVL, replaced by the euro in 2014.
- Lebanese Pound (LBP)Lebanon's currency, code LBP, which lost the vast majority of its value after its long dollar peg broke down in 2019.
- Lesotho Loti (LSL)Lesotho's currency, code LSL, pegged one-to-one with the South African rand.
- Liberian Dollar (LRD)Liberia's currency, code LRD, used alongside the US dollar.
- Libyan Dinar (LYD)Libya's currency, code LYD, which depends almost entirely on oil revenue.
- Lithuanian Litas (LTL)Lithuania's former currency, code LTL, replaced by the euro in 2015.
M
- Macanese PatacaThe currency of Macau, the casino hub on China's south coast, held in a tight peg to the Hong Kong dollar.
- Macedonian DenarThe currency of North Macedonia, kept closely in line with the euro by its central bank.
- Major pairsThe most traded currency pairs, each pairing the US dollar with another big economy's currency, such as EUR/USD or USD/JPY.
- Malagasy AriaryThe currency of Madagascar, and one of the few in the world not split into 100 smaller units.
- Malawian KwachaThe currency of Malawi in southern Africa, a thinly traded exotic that has been devalued several times.
- Malaysian RinggitMalaysia's currency, an emerging-market favourite closely tied to oil, palm oil and the Chinese economy.
- Maldivian RufiyaaThe currency of the Maldives, held close to the US dollar by the country's central bank.
- Maltese LiraMalta's old currency, retired in 2008 when the island switched to the euro.
- Mauritanian OuguiyaThe currency of Mauritania in West Africa, one of the rare money units split into fifths instead of hundredths.
- Mauritian RupeeThe currency of Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island economy built on tourism, textiles and offshore finance.
- Mexican PesoMexico's currency and one of the most heavily traded emerging-market currencies in the world.
- Minor pairsCurrency pairs between major currencies that leave out the US dollar, such as EUR/GBP or AUD/JPY.
- Moldovan LeuThe currency of Moldova, a small country between Romania and Ukraine.
- Mongolian TugrikMongolia's currency, whose fortunes ride on mining exports and demand from China.
- Moroccan DirhamMorocco's currency, managed against a basket made mostly of euros and dollars.
- Mozambican MeticalThe currency of Mozambique on Africa's south-east coast.
- Myanmar KyatThe currency of Myanmar, under heavy official control and with a gap between official and street rates.
N
- Namibian DollarNamibia's currency, pegged one-for-one to the South African rand.
- Nepalese RupeeNepal's currency, pegged to the Indian rupee.
- Netherlands Antillean GuilderThe old shared currency of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, pegged to the US dollar and replaced by the Caribbean guilder in 2025.
- New Taiwan DollarTaiwan's currency, closely tied to the global semiconductor cycle.
- New Zealand DollarNew Zealand's currency, nicknamed the Kiwi, and a classic commodity- and risk-sensitive currency.
- Nigerian NairaNigeria's currency, heavily tied to oil exports and sharply devalued in 2023 and 2024.
- Non-Convertible CurrencyA currency that can't be freely swapped for other money, usually because the government restricts it.
- Non-Deliverable ForwardA currency forward settled in dollars instead of the actual currency, used for currencies that can't move freely across borders.
- North Korean WonNorth Korea's currency, which is tightly controlled and essentially untradeable abroad.
- Norwegian KroneNorway's currency, closely tied to the price of oil.
O
P
- Pakistani RupeePakistan's currency, prone to sharp devaluations during the country's repeated balance-of-payments crises.
- Panamanian BalboaPanama's official currency, fixed one-to-one with the US dollar, which is what people actually use for notes.
- Papua New Guinean KinaThe currency of Papua New Guinea, a resource-rich Pacific nation.
- Paraguayan GuaraniParaguay's currency, named after the country's Indigenous people and their language.
- ParityWhen two currencies are worth exactly the same, so the exchange rate is 1.0000.
- Peruvian SolPeru's currency, known for being one of the steadier currencies in Latin America and tied to copper and gold.
- PetrocurrencyA currency whose value rises and falls with the price of oil because the country exports a lot of it.
- Polish ZlotyPoland's currency, one of the most actively traded in Central and Eastern Europe.
- PremiumAn extra amount paid above a reference price; in options, the price you pay to buy the option.
Q
R
- Reserve CurrencyA currency that central banks and governments around the world hold in large amounts as part of their savings.
- RevaluationAn official decision to raise the value of a fixed or pegged currency against others.
- Romanian LeuRomania's currency, which floats but is closely watched by its central bank against the euro.
- Russian RubleRussia's currency, driven by oil and gas prices and, since 2022, by sanctions and capital controls.
- Rwandan FrancRwanda's currency, a lightly traded East African exotic.
S
- Safe Haven CurrenciesCurrencies investors flock to in times of fear, mainly the US dollar, Japanese yen and Swiss franc.
- Saint Helena PoundThe currency of the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, fixed one-to-one with the British pound.
- Salvadoran Colón (SVC)El Salvador's former currency, code SVC, replaced in practice by the US dollar from 2001.
- Samoan TalaThe currency of Samoa, a Pacific island nation.
- São Tomé and Príncipe DobraThe currency of São Tomé and Príncipe, a small island nation off West Africa, pegged to the euro.
- Saudi Arabian RiyalSaudi Arabia's currency, pegged to the US dollar at 3.75 since 1986.
- Seychelles RupeeThe currency of the Seychelles, an Indian Ocean island nation that lives on tourism and fishing.
- Sierra Leonean LeoneSierra Leone's currency, redenominated in 2022 by knocking three zeros off.
- Singapore DollarSingapore's currency, managed by the central bank against a hidden basket of currencies rather than through interest rates.
- Slovak KorunaSlovakia's former currency, replaced by the euro in 2009.
- Slovenian TolarSlovenia's former currency, retired in 2007 when it became the first of the newer EU members to join the euro.
- Soft PegA loose currency peg where the rate is kept near a target or within a band but allowed to move or be adjusted.
- Solomon Islands DollarThe currency of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.
- Somali ShillingSomalia's currency, which survived years without a functioning central government largely through old banknotes and counterfeits.
- South African RandSouth Africa's currency, one of the most traded emerging-market currencies and famously volatile.
- South Korean WonSouth Korea's currency, heavily influenced by global tech demand and the health of world trade.
- Special Drawing RightsAn international reserve asset created by the IMF, valued against a basket of five major currencies.
- Sri Lankan RupeeSri Lanka's currency, which collapsed during the country's 2022 debt default and economic crisis.
- SterlingAnother name for the British pound, the UK's currency.
- Sudanese DinarSudan's former currency, replaced by the Sudanese pound in 2007.
- Suriname GuilderSuriname's former currency, replaced by the Surinamese dollar in 2004.
- Swedish KronaSweden's currency, sensitive to European growth and global risk mood.
- Swiss FrancSwitzerland's currency, nicknamed the Swissy, and one of the world's classic safe havens.
- Syrian PoundSyria's currency, which lost most of its value during years of civil war and sanctions.
T
- Tajikistani SomoniThe currency of Tajikistan in Central Asia, heavily dependent on money sent home by workers in Russia.
- Tanzanian ShillingTanzania's currency, a lightly traded East African exotic.
- Thai BahtThailand's currency, whose collapse in 1997 sparked the Asian financial crisis.
- Tongan PaʻangaThe currency of Tonga, a South Pacific island kingdom.
- Triangular ArbitrageProfiting from a momentary pricing mismatch between three currency pairs by trading through all three in a loop.
- Trinidad and Tobago DollarThe currency of Trinidad and Tobago, a Caribbean energy exporter, kept stable against the US dollar.
- Tunisian DinarTunisia's currency, which can't legally be taken out of the country.
- Turkish LiraTurkey's currency, known for high inflation and dramatic crashes during unconventional policy experiments.
- Turkmenistani ManatTurkmenistan's currency, tightly controlled, with a large gap between official and street rates.
- Two-Way PriceA quote that shows both a bid and an ask, so you can either buy or sell.
U
- Ugandan ShillingUganda's currency, a floating but thinly traded East African exotic.
- Ukrainian HryvniaUkraine's currency, tightly managed since Russia's 2022 invasion.
- United Arab Emirates DirhamThe currency of the United Arab Emirates, pegged to the US dollar.
- United States DollarThe world's dominant currency, on one side of the large majority of all forex trades.
- Uruguayan PesoUruguay's currency, from one of South America's more stable economies.
- US Dollar IndexAn index tracking the US dollar against a basket of six major currencies, led by the euro.
- Uzbekistani SomUzbekistan's currency, freed from strict controls in 2017.
V
X
Y
Z
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