Global Currency Symbols Quick Reference Guide: USD, Euro, GBP, and More All in One Place

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Why Is It Important to Master Currency Symbols of Different Countries?

In international investing and forex trading, quickly identifying different regions’ currency symbols is crucial. Each country or region has its own currency code and corresponding symbol, which act like “financial shorthand,” helping traders instantly recognize the trading instrument. For example, seeing € indicates a Euro-related currency pair, while ¥ requires distinguishing whether it refers to the Chinese Renminbi or the Japanese Yen.

The core value of currency symbols lies in high efficiency—$100 is much quicker and easier to read than “100 US dollars.” This simple visual recognition system is the universal language of global financial markets.

Complete Comparison Table of Major Global Currency Symbols

Below is a regional organization of commonly used currencies and their symbols:

Americas

Country Currency Name Code Symbol
USA US Dollar USD $
Canada Canadian Dollar CAD $
Brazil Brazilian Real BRL R$

Asia

Country Currency Name Code Symbol
China Renminbi CNY ¥/元
Taiwan New Taiwan Dollar TWD NT$
Hong Kong Hong Kong Dollar HKD $/HK$
Japan Yen JPY ¥
Singapore Singapore Dollar SGD $
South Korea South Korean Won KRW
India Rupee INR
Indonesia Indonesian Rupiah IDR Rp
Malaysia Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM
Philippines Philippine Peso PHP
Thailand Thai Baht THB ฿
Vietnam Vietnamese Dong VND

Oceania

Country Currency Name Code Symbol
Australia Australian Dollar AUD $
New Zealand New Zealand Dollar NZD $

Europe

Country Currency Name Code Symbol
UK Pound Sterling GBP £
Eurozone Euro EUR
Russia Russian Ruble RUB
Ukraine Ukrainian Hryvnia UAH
Turkey Turkish Lira TRY

Middle East & Africa

Country Currency Name Code Symbol
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Israel New Shekel ILS
Nigeria Naira NGN
Kenya Kenyan Shilling KES Ksh
South Africa Rand ZAR R

Mac and Windows Shortcuts: Easily Input Currency Symbols

Want to quickly type common currency symbols on your computer? Here are effective methods:

Currency Code Symbol Mac Shortcut Windows Shortcut
Euro EUR Shift+Option+2 Alt+E
Pound GBP £ Option+3 Alt+L
US Dollar USD $ Shift+4 Shift+4
Yen JPY ¥ Option+Y Alt+Y

Commonly Confused Currency Symbols

The Double Identity of ¥

The ¥ symbol is used by multiple Asian countries, most notably China (CNY) and Japan (JPY). To avoid ambiguity, the standard practice is to add the country code before the amount—CNY¥100 means “100 RMB,” while JPY¥100 means “100 Yen.”

Widespread Use of $

The $ symbol appears to be exclusive to the US dollar, but in fact, it represents local currencies in over 30 countries. Common examples include:

  • US$ : US Dollar
  • NT$ : New Taiwan Dollar
  • C$ : Canadian Dollar
  • R$ : Brazilian Real
  • HK$ : Hong Kong Dollar
  • S$ : Singapore Dollar
  • A$ : Australian Dollar
  • NZ$ : New Zealand Dollar

฿ Symbol’s Dual Meaning

In the forex market, ฿ represents the Thai Baht. However, in the cryptocurrency world, ฿ also denotes Bitcoin. Traders need to interpret the meaning based on the trading context.

How Forex Currency Pairs Work

The basic unit in the forex market is the currency pair, such as EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, etc., which indicates the exchange rate between two currencies. Investors buy or sell currency pairs to participate in the international financial market.

For example, USD/GBP shows the exchange rate of US Dollars against British Pounds—that is, how many GBP one USD can buy. The first currency (USD) is called the base currency, and the second (GBP) is the quote currency. Understanding this logic is essential for forex trading.

Mastering the global USD symbol and other major currency codes is fundamental for participating in international financial transactions. Familiarity with these symbols allows traders to analyze markets more quickly, track price movements, and ultimately make more informed investment decisions.

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