Most popular phrases for cash revealed – including one we’ve been using for 500 years

• New research from Post Office has unveiled the most commonly used slang terms for money
• There are generational differences between the most popular sayings, with Baby Boomers using the traditional term ‘cash’ but Gen Z preferring ‘paper’
• Almost three quarters (71 per cent) of Brits think cash is here to stay, believing its decline is not inevitable
• Cash withdrawals, deposits and balance enquiries can be made securely and conveniently over the counter at any Post Office

‘Cash’, ‘quid’ and ‘fiver’ are the top phrases used by Brits when referring to money, with Baby Boomers opting for more traditional words like ‘cash’ and Gen Z preferring ‘paper’.

Gen Z is the most likely generation to use slang terms for money, with 58 per cent adopting new phrases, compared to just 19 per cent of Baby Boomers.

With the way we pay for things continually evolving, so is the language we use to communicate these payments. In fact, the study found that 29 per cent of respondents think the word ‘cash’ may die out entirely one day, if society moves away from physical money.

Longstanding phrases such as ‘folding green’, ‘lolly’ and ‘shekels’ are widely used by older generations but not known by Gen Z or Millennials. However, terms such as ‘stacks’ and ‘P’s' are more commonly said by younger Brits.

Despite the introduction of cashless payments, 71 per cent of Brits agree the decline of cash is not inevitable, with 82 per cent believing it’s important to have cash readily available.

Ross Borkett, Banking Director at Post Office, said: “Money, how we talk about it and how we use it, has always been a unique part of British culture. It’s not surprising to see such a wide range of phrases being used for money, showing how entrenched cash still is within our society.

“Whether you need money to pay the window cleaner or own a local shop and need to deposit your daily takings, we believe cash matters, and it seems so does the public.

“While we’re seeing a shift towards contactless and digital payments, this research highlights that Brits still find value in having access to cash - whether they call it ‘quid’ or ‘coin’.”

It’s not just different generations which have slang terms for money; the research also found that where you live can impact your cash vocabulary. For example, ‘dosh’ is most popular in the North East, while ‘bread’ is most likely to be said by people in the South East, and in Northern Ireland ‘Bank’ and ‘moolah’ are popular terms.

This has resulted in more than a quarter (27 per cent) of Brits travelling to a different part of the UK and hearing an unfamiliar term for cash.

Dr Lynn Robson, Lecturer in English Literature at Oxford University, said: “As money has evolved from shells and coins to plastic and digital forms, so too has the language we use to describe it. Despite the changes in how we pay for things, ‘cash’ - which has been used in our language for over 500 years - is still the most popular word for money.

“When it comes to the language of money, there are many cultural influences that can move phrases from the margins to mainstream culture. For example, sayings like ‘loot’ are infiltrating conversations due to the popularity of games like Minecraft, but it is still those closest to us which have the greatest impact on our language, with people picking up their words for money from parents (42 per cent) and friends (46 per cent).”

More information on Post Office’s everyday banking services can be found here: https://www.postoffice.co.uk/help-support/everyday-banking

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