Overview of Major Global Currency Symbols: Euro Sign, US Dollar Sign, and Country Currency Values Chart

Conducting international investments, foreign exchange trading, or cross-border payments requires mastering each country’s currency symbols and their correct usage. This not only speeds up transaction recognition but also effectively prevents payment errors. This article will provide a detailed overview of the symbols of major global currencies, the standard notation of the euro symbol, and how these symbols are practically applied.

Why is it necessary to understand currency symbols?

Currency symbols are essentially graphical abbreviations of currency names. From daily shopping to financial markets, currency symbols are everywhere. Their core functions include three aspects:

First is quick recognition. When forex traders see the euro symbol (€), they immediately associate it with the Eurozone economies and related currency pairs, such as the common EUR/USD.

Second is simplified record-keeping. Writing “$100” is obviously more convenient and efficient than “100 US dollars,” especially in financial statements and transaction documents.

Third is functional differentiation. Multiple countries may use the same symbol (like $). Correctly annotating the currency code behind the symbol can avoid payment confusion.

A comparison table of major global currencies and their symbols

The Americas include the US dollar (USD/$), Canadian dollar (CAD/$), and Brazilian real (BRL/R$).

Asia has the most diverse currencies. The Chinese Renminbi uses ￥ or 元 (CNY), Taiwan New Taiwan Dollar is NT$ (TWD), Hong Kong dollar uses HK$ or $ (HKD). The Japanese Yen is ¥ (JPY), Singapore dollar S$ (SGD), South Korean won ₩ (KRW). Additionally, there are the Indian Rupee (INR/₹), Indonesian Rupiah (IDR/Rp), Malaysian Ringgit (MYR/RM), Philippine Peso (PHP/₱), Thai Baht (THB/฿), and Vietnamese Dong (VND/₫).

Oceania’s Australian dollar (AUD/$) and New Zealand dollar (NZD/$) both use the $ symbol.

Europe is represented by the British Pound (GBP/£), with the euro symbol (€) (currency code EUR) used across all eurozone countries. Other currencies include the Russian Ruble (RUB/₽), Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH/₴), and Turkish Lira (TRY/₺).

Middle East and Africa include the UAE Dirham (AED/د.إ), Israeli New Shekel (ILS/₪), Nigerian Naira (NGN/₦), Kenyan Shilling (KES/Ksh), and South African Rand (ZAR/R).

Keyboard shortcuts for inputting currency symbols on computers

On Mac systems, the euro symbol can be input with Shift+Option+2, the pound sign with Option+3, the dollar sign with Shift+4, and the yen with Option+Y.

On Windows systems, the euro symbol is input via Alt+E, the pound with Alt+L, the dollar with Shift+4, and the yen with Alt+Y. These shortcuts greatly improve input efficiency.

Commonly confused currency symbols and their distinctions

￥ symbol’s dual identity. This symbol represents both the Chinese Renminbi (CNY) and the Japanese Yen (JPY). To avoid confusion, it is recommended to write “CNY￥100” for 100 RMB or “JPY¥100” for 100 Yen.

The $ symbol’s global usage. Over 30 countries and regions use the $ symbol for their currencies. The most common include US$ (US dollar), NT$ (New Taiwan dollar), C$ (Canadian dollar), R$ (Brazilian real), HK$ (Hong Kong dollar), S$ (Singapore dollar), A$ (Australian dollar), and NZ$ (New Zealand dollar). Always specify the prefix in international transactions to ensure accuracy.

฿ symbol’s two meanings. In forex markets, ฿ usually indicates the Thai Baht. However, in the cryptocurrency field, the same symbol represents Bitcoin. It is crucial to determine its specific meaning based on the trading environment.

The difference between currency symbols and currency pairs

A single currency symbol represents a specific currency, such as $ for US dollar, € for Euro symbol, and ￥ for Renminbi. They are used to denote specific monetary amounts.

In contrast, currency pairs are the basic units of forex trading, representing the exchange rate between two currencies. EUR/USD (Euro against US dollar) indicates how many US dollars one euro can buy; GBP/JPY (Pound against Yen) shows the value relationship between the pound and the yen.

For example, USD/GBP is a currency pair, not a single currency. USD is the base currency, GBP is the quote currency. The meaning of this pair is how many British pounds one US dollar can buy. Traders buy and sell currency pairs to capitalize on exchange rate fluctuations, engaging in arbitrage or risk hedging.

Mastering the correct usage of these currency symbols not only improves trading efficiency but is also a necessary condition for standardizing international financial records. In the context of a globalized economy, familiarizing oneself with major currency symbols and the universal notation of the euro and other international symbols will become fundamental skills for participating in cross-border transactions.