What does "quid" mean?
"Quid" is British slang for pound sterling. Here's how it's used and some related money expressions.
What it means
British slang for a pound (£). One quid = £1. Five quid = £5. Unlike most currency slang, "quid" doesn't change in the plural - "five quid" not "five quids."
"Can you lend me a quid?"
"That'll cost about fifty quid."
Where it comes from
Origin is debated - possibly from Latin "quid pro quo," or from an Italian immigrant community in London. It's been in use since at least the 17th century.
Register
Casual. Used in everyday speech. Fine between colleagues; not in formal documents.
What does "quid" mean?
British slang for a pound (£). One quid = £1. Five quid = £5. Unlike most currency slang, "quid" doesn't change in the plural - "five quid" not "five quids."
"Can you lend me a quid?"
"That'll cost about fifty quid."
Is "quid" formal or informal?
Casual. Used in everyday speech. Fine between colleagues; not in formal documents.
What's another way to say "quid"?
- "Grand" = £1,000 (also used in American English)
- "Ton" = £100 (informal, less common)
- "Score" = £20 (informal)
- "Fiver" = £5 note (because of the actual word on the note)
- "Tenner" = £10 note
Why do native speakers say "quid"?
Origin is debated - possibly from Latin "quid pro quo," or from an Italian immigrant community in London. It's been in use since at least the 17th century.
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