Money & Banking English

Money vocabulary looks simple until you meet the pairs that go in opposite directions. Lend and borrow describe the same event from two sides — one gives, one takes — and the cover shows exactly that. Add the everyday banking words and a few honest phrases about not having money, and you can handle most real conversations.

At the bank

The core actions and the words you'll see on forms and apps.

Earning and paying

Note the split: you pay a bill or a person, but you pay for a thing or a service.

A small distinction worth knowing: a salary is usually a fixed annual amount paid monthly; wages are typically paid by the hour or week.

Saving and borrowing

The direction words again: you lend to and you borrow from.

Everyday money talk

Informal phrases people actually use about spending — and about not spending.

Keep broke and rip-off for friends and casual speech — in an email to a client, prefer I'm afraid that's outside our budget.

Common mistakes

Swapping lend and borrow. The lender gives; the borrower takes.

"moneys" / "a money". Money is uncountable.

Adding a preposition before a bill. When you settle a bill directly, bill is the object of pay.

"I can't permit it." The word for having enough money is afford, and it usually appears with can/can't.

Quick exercise

Complete each line with one word.

1. Could you ___ me ten dollars until Friday? (you're asking the other person to give)
2. Can I ___ your charger? (you're the one taking it)
3. I'd like to ___ a bank account.
4. I can't ___ a new laptop right now.
5. I paid ___ the tickets online.