Today we will be talking about money, something universal….however us brits have found many words and phrases to use when talking about it.
While the origins of these slang terms are many and various, certainly a lot of English money slang is rooted in various London communities, many sectors such as with street traders and gangs developed their own specific slang, which has produce some strange interpretations commonly used today…..so we are going to explore them now!
Our first word for money is Bread B-R-E-A-D. In formal English this refers to the food but within slang it represents money. This term stems from cockney rhyming slang and metaphoric use of ‘bread’. Bread or bread and honey rhymes with = money. Bread also has associations with money, in a metaphorical sense as it can traced back to the Bible. Bread in the sense of money is also linked with the expression ‘earning a crust’, which alludes to having enough money to pay for one’s daily bread.
Closely linked to this phrase, another word for money is dough D-O-U-G-H which appears to be based on “bread”. Both words have been popular slang for money since the 1930s.
Ok moving on to our next word for money which is Moolah M-O-O-L-A-H. If you have a lot of moolah, you’re rich, you have plenty of cash. The word “Moolah” has an Indian origin. Moolah, in Hindi, means the root cause of something. This this slang word has many implications for the way we view money, that it is the root of all!
Last but not least we have Wedge W-E-D-G-E. In formal english a wedge is a triangular shaped tool, used to split open an object. Its connotations with money arise from when coins could be split into quarters so exact weights could be measured. The shape of these sections was a wedge. Nowadays “a wedge” is a pay-packet amount of money or the amount someone earns.
Next time you are with an english speaker and they ask you for a wedge, some bread or a bit of moolah you know what they are talking about!
Tune in to our next episode to find out how we can refer to a pound coin in slang, and trust me there are many ways.
That’s our episode of the day, you can find us on our website https://theslangpodcast.com and from there you can see our transcript and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more apps. Or head over to our facebook page https://facebook.com/theslangpodcast for updates and more slang!
The slang phrase Monopoly money is often used to refer to small amounts of money or something that is worthless. Obviously, the phrase references the fake paper money used in the popular(ly infuriating) board game Monopoly.
The acronym C.R.E.A.M., which stands for “Cash Rules Everything Around Me,” was created by the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan in their 1994 song “C.R.E.A.M.” In an interview, Raekwon the Chef revealed that the slang cream for money was invented by children from his neighborhood and was inspired by, of all things, Tom and Jerry cartoons.
The word simoleon has been used as US slang for a dollar since the 1880s, and it is yet another word with an unknown origin—though it’s possible the word is a blend of Simon and Napoleon.
The slang Gouda for money was popularized by rapper E-40, who is known for his creative wordplay. According to E-40, Gouda was inspired by the older terms cheese and cheddar and—he admits—the credit for using this specific type of cheese really belongs to his wife.
The term bank has been used to refer to money—and not just the place we keep it—since the 1500s. Its use to indicate a large sum of money can be traced back to at least the 1990s.
Today we will be talking about money, something universal….however us brits have found many words and phrases to use when talking about it.
Ok moving on to our next word for money which is Moolah M-O-O-L-A-H. If you have a lot of moolah, you’re rich, you have plenty of cash. The word “Moolah” has an Indian origin. Moolah, in Hindi, means the root cause of something. This this slang word has many implications for the way we view money, that it is the root of all!
Next time you are with an english speaker and they ask you for a wedge, some bread or a bit of moolah you know what they are talking about!
Tune in to our next episode to find out how we can refer to a pound coin in slang, and trust me there are many ways.
Our first word for money is Bread B-R-E-A-D. In formal English this refers to the food but within slang it represents money. This term stems from cockney rhyming slang and metaphoric use of ‘bread’. Bread or bread and honey rhymes with = money. Bread also has associations with money, in a metaphorical sense as it can traced back to the Bible. Bread in the sense of money is also linked with the expression ‘earning a crust’, which alludes to having enough money to pay for one’s daily bread.
Gunna – bread & butter [Official Video]
What is the difference between bread and money?
While it is impossible to track the specific time period in which bread and money became synonyms, bread was the term initially used to mean money. In contrast, dough was used later on (in association with bread). Early 19th century literature frequently used the phrase “earning ‘ bread” or “earning daily bread.”
What are the health benefits of eating bread?
Bread contains health benefits if you consume it whole and without preservatives. Whole bread contains fiber, folic acid, many vitamins and proteins, has prebiotic effect, is low in fat and decreases the risk of cancer.
Is bread a slang word for money?
Bread in the sense of money is also linked with the expression ‘earning a crust’, which alludes to having enough money to pay for one’s daily bread. Closely linked to this phrase, another word for money is dough D-O-U-G-H which appears to be based on “bread”. Both words have been popular slang for money since the 1930s.
How did bread become a slang word?
The term breadwinner, used commonly from the 1940s onwards, took this idea and ran with it. The term bread was directly tied with someone who earned money. From there, it’s easy to see how bread, and subsequently dough, came into common usage. Then there’s Cockney rhyming slang. The term “bread and honey” was used instead of money.