If you use English daily—whether in meetings, negotiations, or casual chats with foreign colleagues—slang can easily trip you up. Even if you're confident in formal business English, informal money terms often catch people by surprise.
In Serbian, we use slang like pare or lova for money, and English is no different. When chatting with English speakers, especially in casual settings, you’ll hear all sorts of slang for cash. Knowing these terms not only sharpens your language skills but also helps you connect more easily with colleagues and clients. Let’s explore some of the most common English money slang every professional should know.
1. Cash
Let’s start simple. Just like we say keš in Serbian, cash in English refers to physical money—bills and coins.
"Will you be paying with cash or card?"
2. Buck(s)
You’ll hear Americans say “bucks” more often than “dollars.” It's their version of our dinari or even pare.
For example, "Can I borrow ten bucks?"
It's casual and extremely common.
3. Green / Greenbacks
In the U.S., paper money is famously green, so terms like green or greenbacks often pop up in conversations.
You might hear something like, "I need to make some green this week.
" It’s a quirky way of talking about money, similar to how we might say zeleni for euros.
4. Lettuce / Cabbage
Americans really like their food metaphors, and here are two fun ones: lettuce and cabbage. Both refer to money because, like U.S. dollars, these vegetables are green.
"She’s making some serious lettuce at her new job."
It’s light and playful, but you’ll want to avoid using this one in serious business meetings.
Think of it like saying lova in Serbian.
5. Moolah
The origin of this term is a bit mysterious, but it’s widely understood to mean money.
"I'm earning more moolah now."
This is a word that adds a casual, slightly playful tone to any conversation.
6. Cheddar / Cheese
Here’s where things get interesting!
Cheddar and cheese have become popular slang for money, especially among younger generations.
It’s said to have originated from government assistance programs, where actual cheese was provided to low-income households.
Over time, it evolved into a slang term for money. Now, it’s used more broadly.
"How much cheddar did you spend on that new car?"
In Serbian, we might say koliko si para bacio or koliko love.
7. Bread / Dough
Here’s more food for thought—literally.
Bread and dough are common terms for money, drawing a connection between basic sustenance and financial survival.
"I need to earn more bread." It’s similar to saying zaraditi hleb in Serbian, where we also associate food with income.
8. Bank
When someone says they are "making bank," they’re not talking about the actual institution.
It means they’re earning a lot of money.
"He’s making bank at his new job."
It's more casual but still a useful phrase.
Think of it like saying malo je nakrcao in Serbian, referring to accumulating money.
9. Grand / G
This one is simple: grand means one thousand dollars.
"We spent five grand on that vacation."
It's similar to saying hiljadarka in Serbian, or som for a thousand dinars.
If you're really casual, you might even hear "G," like "He won 50 Gs in the lottery."
10. Benjamins / Dead Presidents
American money features the faces of former presidents, which has led to slang like dead presidents to describe cash, especially paper bills.
You’ll also hear Benjamins referring to $100 bills, since Benjamin Franklin’s face is on them, even though he wasn’t a president.
11. Ducat / Ducket
Although less common, ducat (or ducket) originates from European gold coins and can still be heard in some circles. "Be careful, you’ll lose all your ducats at the casino."
It’s a bit like our novčić in Serbian, referring to coins.
12. Cake
And finally, we come to cake, another food metaphor for money. Like dough, cake implies you have plenty of money to spend.
"He’s flaunting his cake on social media."
It’s playful and maybe a little showy, much like our mangupisanje sa lovom.
Wrap-up
In international business, professionalism is key, but adapting to informal conversations is just as important. Knowing money slang, like in Serbian with pare or lova, adds fluency and makes your chats more engaging. So next time you're discussing lova, don’t be surprised if your colleagues mention cheddar or Benjamins!
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