pound sterling

Meaning

The currency of the United Kingdom.

Synonyms

pound

💷

British pound

quid

sterling

British pound sterling

sov

punt

sovereign

pound I

nicker

Translations

livre sterling

libra esterlina

στερλίνα

libra

sterlîn

Pfund Sterling

lira sterlina

libra esterlina

lliura esterlina

sterlina

💷

جنيه إسترليني

Pfund

pond sterling

جنيه

💷

Pronounced as (IPA)

/paʊnd ˈstɜː(ɹ).lɪŋ/

Etymology

The basic unit of currency in medieval England was the silver penny or sterling, weighing ¹⁄₂₄₀ of a tower pound. 240 of these coins made a "pound of sterlings". This term (shortened to "pound sterling" in later usage) continued to be used for a sum of 240 pence even after the sterling had ceased to circulate. The modern pound sterling is equivalent to 100 new pence.