Ultimate Money Vocabulary for ESL Students with Pronunciation

If you want your students to succeed in everyday English, learning money vocabulary is a must for basic money management. This post is the best place to find all the words and phrases your learners need to talk about money with confidence.

You will get clear vocabulary lists that include pronunciation, meanings, and example sentences. These words are perfect for teaching conversations, asking and answering questions, debating on money, and doing fun role-plays in class.

You can also use these words to help students use money-related expressions and sound natural and fluent. Whether your students are beginners or more advanced (A1 -C1), this resource will help you plan lessons that are easy to follow and interesting.

Keep reading to find everything you need to teach money vocabulary well and make your classes more lively and useful.

Why Talk About Money in ESL Class

Money is part of everyday life. People buy things, pay bills, and save money. ESL students need to know words about money to join these talks.

Learning money vocabulary helps students feel confident when shopping, talking about jobs, or banking.

It also helps learners understand prices and make plans for their money.

Teachers can use this vocabulary to create useful lessons that prepare students for real-life situations.

Money Vocabulary Activities and Games

Role-play Shopping
Students work in pairs. One is the shopkeeper, the other is the buyer. Use shopping and spending words to ask about prices, pay, and get change.

Money Flashcards
Make cards with money words and pictures. Show cards to students. Ask them to say the word, its meaning, or make a sentence.

Matching Game
Prepare word cards and meaning cards separately. Students match words to meanings in small groups or pairs.

Price Tag Game
Put price tags on classroom objects. Students practice asking and answering questions like “How much does it cost?” and “I will pay by card.”

Money Dialogues
Give students dialogue scripts with money vocabulary. They practice in pairs and then perform in front of the class.

1. Basic Money Terms (A1–A2)

ESL learners often hear or use these basic words when they talk about money in everyday situations like shopping, asking prices, or counting coins. These are foundational terms that help students feel confident using English in real-life money-related conversations.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
money	/ˈmʌni/	A1	What people use to buy things or pay for services.	I don’t have enough money for lunch.
coin	/kɔɪn/	A1	A small round piece of metal used as money.	I found a coin on the ground.
bill	/bɪl/	A2	A piece of paper money.	I paid with a ten-dollar bill.
price	/praɪs/	A2	The amount of money something costs.	The price of this book is too high.
cash	/kæʃ/	A2	Money in the form of coins or paper, not a card.	Do you want to pay in cash or by card?
wallet	/ˈwɒlɪt/	A2	A small case for carrying money and cards.	He put the money back in his wallet.
note	/nəʊt/	A2	A piece of paper money (British English).	She gave me a £5 note.
change	/ʧeɪndʒ/	A2	Coins returned after paying more than the price.	Keep the change.
currency	/ˈkʌrənsi/	A2	The money used in a particular country.	The currency in Japan is yen.
purse	/pɜːs/	A2	A small bag for holding money (especially used by women).	She took a coin out of her purse.

Teacher Tip:

Use this list to introduce students to basic financial vocabulary in beginner-level speaking and listening tasks. A simple matching game or classroom scavenger hunt using realia (coins, fake bills, price tags) can make the learning more hands-on and engaging.

2. Shopping and Spending Vocabulary (A2–B1)

When ESL learners go shopping or talk about how they use money, they need more than just the word “money.” This vocabulary list focuses on common terms used in shopping and spending situations.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
spend	/spɛnd/	A2	To use money to buy things or pay for services.	I don’t like to spend too much at the mall.
cost	/kɒst/	A2	The amount of money needed to buy something.	How much does it cost?
buy	/baɪ/	A1	To get something by paying money for it.	I want to buy a new pair of shoes.
sell	/sɛl/	A2	To give something in exchange for money.	They sell clothes at a discount here.
pay	/peɪ/	A1	To give money in exchange for something.	I will pay by card.
cheap	/ʧiːp/	A2	Not expensive; low in price.	These bags are really cheap.
expensive	/ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/	A2	Costing a lot of money.	That jacket is too expensive for me.
change	/ʧeɪndʒ/	A2	The money you get back after paying more than the cost.	Here’s your change.
receipt	/rɪˈsiːt/	B1	A piece of paper showing you paid for something.	Do you need a receipt?
discount	/ˈdɪskaʊnt/	B1	A reduction in price.	There’s a 20% discount on shoes today.

Teacher Tip:
Use this table as a vocabulary reference during your shopping-related lessons. Have your students act out dialogues using at least five of the words. You can also ask them to create short role-plays based on real-life shopping situations.

3. Banking and Finance Vocabulary (B1–B2)

As ESL students grow more confident, they begin to talk about banking and financial matters like opening an account or withdrawing money. This list introduces practical vocabulary they will encounter in real-life situations involving banks and personal finance.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
bank account	/ˈbæŋk əˌkaʊnt/	B1	A record of the money you keep in a bank.	I opened a new bank account last week.
deposit	/dɪˈpɒzɪt/	B2	To put money into a bank account.	He deposited $200 into his account.
withdraw	/wɪðˈdrɔː/	B2	To take money out of a bank account.	She withdrew some cash from the ATM.
ATM	/ˌeɪ tiː ˈɛm/	B1	A machine that gives you money from your bank account.	You can get cash from the ATM outside.
balance	/ˈbæləns/	B1	The amount of money you have in your account.	I checked my balance online.
transfer	/ˈtrænsfɜː(r)/	B2	To move money from one account to another.	Can you transfer the money to my account?
loan	/ləʊn/	B2	Money borrowed from a bank that must be paid back.	He took out a loan to buy a car.
interest	/ˈɪntrəst/	B2	The extra money paid for borrowing or earned from saving money.	This savings account gives 4% interest.
fee	/fiː/	B2	A small charge for a service, often by a bank.	The bank charges a monthly fee.
statement	/ˈsteɪtmənt/	B2	A written record of the money going in and out of your bank account.	I get my bank statements by email.

Teacher Tip:

Have students practice dialogues at the bank, filling out simple bank forms, or role-playing customer and banker. Use audio clips or online banking forms for listening and reading practice.

4. Earning and Income Vocabulary (B1–B2)

Talking about work and income is essential for ESL learners navigating real-life situations. This vocabulary list includes common words related to earning money and receiving payment from jobs.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
salary	/ˈsæləri/	B1	A fixed amount of money paid monthly or yearly for a job.	Her salary is paid at the end of every month.
wage	/weɪdʒ/	B1	Money paid by the hour, day, or week for work.	He earns a good wage at the factory.
paycheck	/ˈpeɪʧɛk/	B2	A paper or digital payment that shows how much someone earned.	I got my paycheck this morning.
income	/ˈɪnkʌm/	B2	The total money a person earns.	Her income is enough to support her family.
earn	/ɜːn/	B1	To receive money for doing work.	I earn about $15 an hour.
bonus	/ˈbəʊnəs/	B2	Extra money given for good work or performance.	We got a holiday bonus this year.
commission	/kəˈmɪʃən/	B2	Money earned for selling something, often a percentage of the sale.	She earns commission on every car she sells.
raise	/reɪz/	B2	An increase in the amount of money you are paid.	He got a raise after his promotion.
overtime	/ˈəʊvətaɪm/	B2	Time worked beyond regular hours, often paid extra.	I worked overtime last weekend.
freelance	/ˈfriːˌlɑːns/	B2	Working independently, not as a full-time employee.	She works freelance as a graphic designer.

Teacher Tip:

Ask students to write or talk about their current or dream jobs using at least five vocabulary words. You can also use job ads and payslips for listening, reading, or role-play activities.

5. Bills and Expenses Vocabulary (B1–B2)

Talking about monthly costs is essential for real-life conversations. This vocabulary list covers common words related to household bills and regular spending.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
rent	/rɛnt/	B1	Money paid regularly for living in a house or apartment.	My rent is due on the first of every month.
utilities	/juːˈtɪlɪtiz/	B2	Basic services like water, electricity, and gas.	Utilities are not included in the rent.
groceries	/ˈɡrəʊsəriːz/	B1	Food and other items bought at a supermarket.	We spend about $100 on groceries each week.
bill	/bɪl/	A2	A statement showing how much money is owed for a service.	I just paid the electricity bill.
expense	/ɪkˈspɛns/	B2	Money that is spent on something.	Travel expenses can be very high.
insurance	/ɪnˈʃʊərəns/	B2	An agreement to pay for damage or loss in exchange for regular payments.	I pay health insurance every month.
subscription	/səbˈskrɪpʃən/	B2	Regular payment to use a service, like streaming or magazines.	I have a monthly subscription to Netflix.
late fee	/leɪt fiː/	B2	Extra money charged when you pay a bill after the due date.	He was charged a late fee for the phone bill.
due	/djuː/	B1	Expected to be paid at a certain time.	The rent is due next week.
budget	/ˈbʌdʒɪt/	B2	A plan for how to spend your money.	I make a monthly budget to manage my expenses.

Teacher Tip:

Ask students to list all the bills they or their family members pay. Then, have them write simple monthly budgets using the vocabulary. Role-plays with a landlord or utility company can make it even more practical.

6. Borrowing and Debt Vocabulary (B2–C1)

As students become more fluent, they need to understand how people borrow and repay money. This list includes words used in discussions about loans, credit, and financial obligations.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
loan	/ləʊn/	B2	Money that is borrowed and must be paid back with interest.	He took out a loan to buy a new car.
interest	/ˈɪntrəst/	B2	Extra money paid for borrowing money, usually as a percentage.	The interest on this loan is 5% per year.
debt	/dɛt/	B2	Money that is owed to someone or a financial institution.	She is trying to pay off her credit card debt.
borrow	/ˈbɒrəʊ/	B2	To take money from someone or a bank with a plan to return it.	Can I borrow $20 until tomorrow?
owe	/əʊ/	B2	To have to pay someone money that you borrowed or were charged.	I owe my friend some money for lunch.
repay	/ˌriːˈpeɪ/	C1	To return money that you borrowed.	He repaid the loan in full last month.
credit	/ˈkrɛdɪt/	B2	The ability to borrow money or buy goods now and pay later.	She has a good credit score.
mortgage	/ˈmɔːɡɪdʒ/	C1	A loan used to buy property, which you pay back over many years.	They applied for a mortgage to buy their first home.
credit card	/ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːd/	B1	A card that lets you borrow money from a bank to pay for things.	He always pays his credit card bill on time.
overdraft	/ˈəʊvədrɑːft/	C1	The act of spending more money than is in your bank account.	She was charged a fee for her overdraft.

Teacher Tip:

Use real-life problem-solving tasks. For example, give students a fictional situation where they need to borrow money and create a repayment plan. You can also discuss credit card use in role-plays.

7. Investing and Saving Vocabulary (B2–C1)

Understanding how to save and invest money is important for financial literacy. This vocabulary list includes words useful for talking about planning money for the future and growing wealth.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
investment	/ɪnˈvɛstmənt/	B2	Money put into something to earn a profit or income.	She made an investment in the stock market last year.
savings	/ˈseɪvɪŋz/	B2	Money that someone has saved, usually in a bank.	He keeps his savings in a high-interest account.
stock	/stɒk/	B2	A share of ownership in a company.	Buying stock can be risky but profitable.
dividend	/ˈdɪvɪdɛnd/	C1	Money paid to shareholders from a company’s profits.	The company paid a dividend to its investors.
portfolio	/pɔːrtˈfəʊliəʊ/	C1	A collection of investments owned by a person or organization.	Her portfolio includes stocks, bonds, and real estate.
bond	/bɒnd/	B2	A loan made to a company or government that pays interest.	Investors often buy bonds for steady income.
retirement	/rɪˈtaɪəmənt/	B2	The time when someone stops working permanently.	She is saving money for her retirement.
interest rate	/ˈɪntrəst reɪt/	B2	The percentage charged on borrowed money or paid on savings.	The bank offers a low interest rate on savings accounts.
diversify	/daɪˈvɜːrsɪfaɪ/	C1	To invest in different types of assets to reduce risk.	It’s smart to diversify your investments.
financial advisor	/fəˈnænʃəl ədˈvaɪzər/	C1	A professional who gives advice about money management and investing.	We met with a financial advisor to plan our savings.

Teacher Tip:

Have students discuss their own saving habits or future financial goals using this vocabulary. Role-play scenarios such as meeting a financial advisor or choosing investments help reinforce understanding.

8. Money Idioms and Expressions (B2–C1)

Idioms and expressions about money make conversations more natural and engaging. These phrases help learners sound like native speakers and understand informal language.

Phrase	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
money doesn’t grow on trees	/ˈmʌni ˈdʌzənt ɡroʊ ɒn triːz/	B2	Money is not easy to get; be careful with spending.	You can’t buy that now—money doesn’t grow on trees.
cost an arm and a leg	/kɒst ən ɑːrm ænd ə lɛɡ/	B2	Very expensive.	That car costs an arm and a leg.
break the bank	/breɪk ðə bæŋk/	B2	To spend all your money or more than you can afford.	Buying a new phone won’t break the bank.
pay through the nose	/peɪ θruː ðə noʊz/	C1	To pay too much money for something.	They paid through the nose for those concert tickets.
penny pincher	/ˈpɛni ˈpɪnʧər/	B2	Someone who is very careful about spending money.	He’s a penny pincher who never buys anything unnecessary.
make a killing	/meɪk ə ˈkɪlɪŋ/	C1	To earn a lot of money quickly.	She made a killing selling her paintings.
cash cow	/kæʃ kaʊ/	C1	A product or business that generates steady income.	That app has become a cash cow for the company.
foot the bill	/fʊt ðə bɪl/	B2	To pay for something, usually a large expense.	Who’s going to foot the bill for the party?
in the red	/ɪn ðə rɛd/	B2	Losing money or in debt.	The company has been in the red for three years.
living paycheck to paycheck	/ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈpeɪʧɛk tu ˈpeɪʧɛk/	B2	Spending all your money as soon as you get paid.	Many people are living paycheck to paycheck these days.

Teacher Tip:

Create activities where students guess the meaning of idioms from context, then use them in their own sentences or dialogues. These idioms are great for making lessons fun and relatable.

9. Currency and Global Money Terms (B1–B2)

Traveling, international business, and global news often involve different currencies and money terms. This vocabulary helps learners understand and talk about money worldwide.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
dollar	/ˈdɒlə/	B1	The basic money unit in the USA, Canada, Australia, and others.	The price is 20 dollars.
euro	/ˈjʊərəʊ/	B1	The currency used by many countries in the European Union.	I exchanged my dollars for euros before the trip.
pound	/paʊnd/	B1	The currency used in the United Kingdom.	The price is ten pounds.
yen	/jɛn/	B1	The currency of Japan.	She paid 5000 yen for the souvenir.
exchange rate	/ɪksˈʧeɪndʒ reɪt/	B2	The value of one currency compared to another.	The exchange rate for dollars to euros changes daily.
currency	/ˈkʌrənsi/	B1	The system of money used in a country.	The local currency is the peso.
banknote	/ˈbæŋkˌnəʊt/	B1	A paper note used as money.	He gave me a 20-dollar banknote.
coin	/kɔɪn/	A2	Small, round money made of metal.	I found some coins on the street.
cash	/kæʃ/	A2	Money in the form of paper bills or coins.	I prefer to pay in cash.
foreign currency	/ˈfɒrɪn ˈkʌrənsi/	B2	Money used in a country different from your own.	She always carries some foreign currency when traveling.

Teacher Tip:

Use this list to prepare activities about travel or international shopping. Students can compare currencies, calculate exchange rates, or discuss their experiences with money in different countries.

10. Digital and Online Payments (B1–B2)

In today’s world, digital payments are everywhere. Knowing this vocabulary helps learners navigate online shopping, apps, and modern payment methods with confidence.

Word	IPA	CEFR	Meaning	Example Sentence
credit card	/ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrd/	B1	A plastic card to pay for things now and pay the bank later.	I used my credit card to buy the tickets online.
debit card	/ˈdɛbɪt kɑːrd/	B1	A card that pays directly from your bank account.	She pays with a debit card at the supermarket.
mobile payment	/ˈmoʊbaɪl ˈpeɪmənt/	B1	Paying using a smartphone or mobile app.	Mobile payment apps are very popular now.
online banking	/ˈɒnlaɪn ˈbæŋkɪŋ/	B2	Managing your bank account using the internet.	He checks his balance through online banking.
e-wallet	/iː ˈwɒlɪt/	B2	A digital app that stores money for online payments.	I added money to my e-wallet for quick purchases.
QR code	/kjuː ɑːr koʊd/	B1	A square barcode scanned with a phone for payments or info.	Scan the QR code to pay.
contactless payment	/ˈkɒntæktləs ˈpeɪmənt/	B2	Paying by tapping a card or phone without touching the machine.	Contactless payments are faster and safer.
transaction	/trænˈzækʃən/	B1	The act of buying or selling something.	The transaction was completed successfully.
password	/ˈpæswɜːrd/	A2	A secret word or phrase for security in apps or websites.	Don’t share your password with anyone.
two-factor authentication	/tuː ˈfæktər ɔːˌθɛntɪˈkeɪʃən/	C1	A security process requiring two steps to access accounts.	Two-factor authentication protects your account better.

Teacher Tip:

Design role-plays where students simulate paying online or in stores with digital tools. Discuss safety tips and ask students to share their experiences with digital payments.

Conclusion

Learning money vocabulary is essential for ESL students to handle real-life situations like shopping, paying bills, and talking about jobs. With the right words, conversations become easier and more natural.

This post gives you all the vocabulary, example sentences, and teaching ideas you need to help your students succeed. Use the lists and activities to create engaging lessons and boost your students’ confidence.

Start using this resource today and watch your students improve their money talk step by step. Remember, practice with role-plays and questions makes learning stick!

FAQ: Teaching Money Vocabulary

Q1: How can I teach money words to beginners?
Start with simple words like money, buy, pay. Use pictures and real objects for better understanding.

Q2: What are the most important money words for daily talk?
Words like price, cost, spend, change, and pay are very useful.

Q3: How can students practice money vocabulary at home?
They can watch shopping videos, use flashcards, or practice role-plays with family.

Q4: How do I help students pronounce money words correctly?
Use phonetic spelling, repeat words slowly, and practice common sounds like /ʧ/ in “change.”

Q5: Can I use real money in class?
Yes, real or fake money helps learners understand value and practice counting.

Q6: How to teach money idioms?
Introduce simple idioms like “cost an arm and a leg” with examples and explanations.

Q7: What activities help with spending and saving vocabulary?
Role-plays, games, and discussions about budgeting or saving money work well.

Q8: How to make lessons interesting?
Use real-life situations, videos, and interactive games to keep students engaged.

Q9: How do I assess students’ money vocabulary skills?
Use quizzes, oral role-plays, and written exercises focused on key words.

Q10: Is digital payment vocabulary important?
Yes, teaching words like “credit card” and “mobile payment” prepares learners for modern life.