euro
euro
Pronunciation
First Syllable:
/j/ - as in "yes"
/ʊə/ - as in "tour" or "sure"
Second Syllable:
/r/ - as in "red"
/oʊ/ - as in "go"
Word Form Variations
The word "euro" generally only has one common word form variation:
Singular: euro
Plural: euros
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The official currency of 20 member states of the European Union, as well as several non-EU countries. It is a major world reserve currency, second only to the US dollar.
Synonyms: European currency, EU currency
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific currency, but one could consider other major currencies as contrasts, e.g., dollar, yen, pound)
Definition 2: A coin or banknote denominated in this currency.
Synonyms: coin, banknote, bill (informal, for banknotes)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; specific to the object itself)
Definition 3: (Informal) Short for a European, particularly in sports or cultural contexts to refer to someone from Europe.
Synonyms: European
Antonyms: non-European, American, Asian, etc. (depending on context)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The character had spent their last euro on a cup of coffee, wondering how they would make it through the rest of their trip across the continent." (Example from a contemporary novel about travel in Europe)
"The economic crisis of the early 21st century highlighted the fragility of the eurozone and the challenges of a single currency shared by diverse economies." (From an economics textbook discussing the European Union)
Newspapers:
"The European Central Bank announced a new interest rate hike today, sending the euro higher against the dollar." ( Financial Times, June 2024)
"Tourists flock to Rome, enjoying gelato for just a few euros in the historic piazzas." (The Guardian, May 2024)
Online Publications:
"Will the euro retain its strength as geopolitical tensions continue to rise in Eastern Europe?" (Reuters.com, July 2024)
"Budget airlines are offering flights across Europe for as little as 20 euros, making travel more accessible than ever." (LonelyPlanet.com, April 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television (News/Documentary): "A documentary exploring the history of the European Union frequently uses the term 'the euro' when discussing its economic integration." (e.g., a BBC documentary on European history)
Music: (Lyrics from a popular song about travel) "Spent my last euro on a train ticket to Paris."
Video Games: In a game set in Europe, the in-game currency might be referred to as "euros," and players collect "euros" to purchase items or upgrades. (e.g., Euro Truck Simulator 2)
Podcasts: "On this week's episode, we discuss the impact of rising energy prices on the value of the euro and its effect on European households." (NPR's Planet Money podcast, August 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you break a 50 euro note for me? I need some smaller change for the bus." (Spoken in a shop in France)
"I heard they're building a new high-speed rail link that will cut travel time between major cities by an hour – it's costing billions of euros." (Conversation between colleagues in a European office)
"The price of bread has gone up by 50 cents, now it's 2 euros a loaf." (Conversation among shoppers in a German supermarket)
10 Quotes Using Euro
"Within our mandate, the ECB is ready to do whatever it takes to preserve the euro. Believe me, it will be enough." (Mario Draghi, July 2012)
"The euro is our common fate, and Europe is our common future." (Angela Merkel)
"Governments must commit to sound economic and financial policies. This is how we ensure reform in the euro area - and our independence." (Mario Draghi)
"I was sure we would never see the adoption of the Euro. Countries giving up their currencies for a common tender was, it seemed to me, completely out of tune with currency being a carrier of people's cultural identity, celebrating national heroes and events, as it had been for hundreds of years." (John Naisbitt)
"Unraveling the euro is a terrible thing. This is a 50-year endeavor to get this continent together and that's a wonderful endeavor." (Jamie Dimon)
"Indeed, the creators of the euro envisioned it as an instrument to promote political union." (Gerhard Schröder)
"I think that the tying of the Montenegrin economy with the euro is a much better option than the adventure of printing our currency." (Igor Lukšić)
"If the euro becomes a factor promoting Europe's drifting apart, then the foundation of the European project is destroyed." (Mario Monti)
"When the euro was born, it was born in the wrong economic circumstances." (John Major)
"The euro must be defended, or uncertainty about the European Union will be widespread." (Viktor Orbán)
Etymology
The word "euro" as we know it today, referring to the currency, is quite modern. Its name comes from a shortened form of "Europe" or "European."
The idea for a single European currency had been around since the 1960s, but the name "euro" was officially chosen at a European Council meeting in Madrid in December 1995. The goal was to pick a name that was easy to pronounce and recognize across all the different languages of the European community.
The euro itself was first used as an "invisible" currency (for electronic transfers and accounting) on January 1, 1999, by 11 nations. The actual physical banknotes and coins were introduced into circulation on January 1, 2002. Before this, the currency that existed as a precursor was called the European Currency Unit (ECU).
Phrases + Idioms Containing Euro
Eurozone crisis: Refers to the financial crisis that affected several countries in the European Monetary Union, particularly between 2009 and 2012.
Common euro area: Used to describe the group of European Union member states that have adopted the euro as their sole legal currency.
A pocket full of euros: Meaning to have a good amount of money in the currency.
Counting your euros implies being mindful of one's spending, or carefully managing finances.
Worth every euro: Signifies that something is excellent value for money.
To break a euro: To get change for a euro banknote (e.g., "Can you break a 50 euro note?").
Floating the euro: Refers to allowing the euro's exchange rate to be determined by market forces.
The strength of the euro: Discussing the relative value and stability of the currency in international markets.
Paying in euros: Indicating a transaction conducted using the euro currency.
Not a single euro to spare: Meaning to have no money left whatsoever.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of euro from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
