In the foreign exchange market, currency symbols are not just visual markers; they are key tools for quickly identifying trading pairs. When you see the € symbol, you immediately think of euro-related currencies (such as EUR/USD, EUR/JPY); when you see $, you need to quickly determine whether it’s US dollars, Canadian dollars, or Hong Kong dollars based on the prefix.
The greatest value of currency symbols lies in simplifying cumbersome writing. Using $40 is much more concise than writing “40 US dollars.” This visual shorthand allows traders to track exchange rate fluctuations and asset changes more quickly. For international investors, mastering common symbols like the US dollar sign, euro sign, and others is equivalent to grasping the basic language of market communication.
Global Major Currency Symbols Quick Reference Table
The table below compiles commonly used currency symbols across five continents and over 30 countries and regions for quick lookup:
Continent
Country/Region
Currency Name
Currency Code
Symbol
Americas
United States
US Dollar
USD
$
Canada
Canadian Dollar
CAD
$
Brazil
Brazilian Real
BRL
R$
Asia
China
Renminbi
CNY
¥/元
Taiwan
New Taiwan Dollar
TWD
NT$
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Dollar
HKD
$/HK$
Japan
Japanese Yen
JPY
¥
Singapore
Singapore Dollar
SGD
$
South Korea
South Korean Won
KRW
₩
India
Indian 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
Australia
Australian Dollar
AUD
$
New Zealand
New Zealand Dollar
NZD
$
Europe
United Kingdom
British Pound
GBP
£
Eurozone
Euro
EUR
€
Russia
Russian Ruble
RUB
₽
Ukraine
Ukrainian Hryvnia
UAH
₴
Turkey
Turkish Lira
TRY
₺
Middle East & Africa
UAE
Emirati Dirham
AED
د.إ
Israel
Israeli Shekel
ILS
₪
Nigeria
Nigerian Naira
NGN
₦
Kenya
Kenyan Shilling
KES
Ksh
South Africa
South African Rand
ZAR
R
Keyboard Shortcuts: Easily Input Common Currency Symbols
Do you often search for input methods to type euro, US dollar, or British pound symbols? Here are the most practical shortcut combinations for Mac and Windows systems:
Currency Name
Code
Symbol
Mac Shortcut
Windows Shortcut
Euro
EUR
€
Shift+Option+2
Alt+E
Pound Sterling
GBP
£
Option+3
Alt+L
US Dollar
USD
$
Shift+4
Shift+4
Japanese Yen
JPY
¥
Option+Y
(Y key)
Beware! These Symbols Are Easily Confused
¥ Symbol’s Dual Identity
The “¥” symbol is used by multiple countries in Asian markets, which can cause confusion. In China, it represents the Renminbi (CNY); in Japan, the same symbol indicates the Yen (JPY). To avoid misunderstandings, traders typically label as follows:
CNY¥100 = 100 Yuan Renminbi
JPY¥100 = 100 Yen
$ Symbol: Used in Over 30 Countries Worldwide
The “$” symbol is the most easily confused. Many people instinctively associate “$” with US dollars, but over 30 countries and regions use “$” as their local currency symbol. Common distinguishing methods include:
Currency Name
English Name
Distinguishing Symbol
US Dollar
United States Dollar
US$
New Taiwan Dollar
New Taiwan Dollar
NT$
Canadian Dollar
Canadian Dollar
C$
Brazilian Real
Brazilian Real
R$
Hong Kong Dollar
Hong Kong Dollar
HK$
Singapore Dollar
Singapore Dollar
S$
Australian Dollar
Australian Dollar
A$
New Zealand Dollar
New Zealand Dollar
NZ$
฿ Symbol’s Dual Meaning
The “฿” symbol typically represents Thailand’s currency—the Baht—in forex markets. However, in the cryptocurrency realm, this symbol is also used as a shorthand for Bitcoin. Context is key to accurately understanding its meaning.
Understanding the Meaning of Forex Currency Pairs
The core of forex trading is currency pairs, represented by two currency codes separated by a “/”. For example, EUR/USD indicates the exchange rate of euro against US dollar; GBP/JPY indicates the exchange rate of British pound against Japanese yen.
Taking USD/GBP as an example, this currency pair tells you: how many British pounds one US dollar can buy. The USD is called the “base currency” (the first), and GBP is called the “quote currency” or “counter currency” (the second). Investors buy or sell the base currency to exchange for the quote currency, seeking profit from exchange rate fluctuations.
Start your forex trading journey on Gate.io to enjoy trading in the global popular forex markets, flexible leverage, and real-time trading strategies. New users can receive a free $50,000 demo account to experience immediately!
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Quick Guide to US Dollar Symbols and Currency Symbols of Various Countries | Complete Input Guide and Symbol Quick Reference
Why Traders Must Recognize Currency Symbols
In the foreign exchange market, currency symbols are not just visual markers; they are key tools for quickly identifying trading pairs. When you see the € symbol, you immediately think of euro-related currencies (such as EUR/USD, EUR/JPY); when you see $, you need to quickly determine whether it’s US dollars, Canadian dollars, or Hong Kong dollars based on the prefix.
The greatest value of currency symbols lies in simplifying cumbersome writing. Using $40 is much more concise than writing “40 US dollars.” This visual shorthand allows traders to track exchange rate fluctuations and asset changes more quickly. For international investors, mastering common symbols like the US dollar sign, euro sign, and others is equivalent to grasping the basic language of market communication.
Global Major Currency Symbols Quick Reference Table
The table below compiles commonly used currency symbols across five continents and over 30 countries and regions for quick lookup:
Keyboard Shortcuts: Easily Input Common Currency Symbols
Do you often search for input methods to type euro, US dollar, or British pound symbols? Here are the most practical shortcut combinations for Mac and Windows systems:
Beware! These Symbols Are Easily Confused
¥ Symbol’s Dual Identity
The “¥” symbol is used by multiple countries in Asian markets, which can cause confusion. In China, it represents the Renminbi (CNY); in Japan, the same symbol indicates the Yen (JPY). To avoid misunderstandings, traders typically label as follows:
$ Symbol: Used in Over 30 Countries Worldwide
The “$” symbol is the most easily confused. Many people instinctively associate “$” with US dollars, but over 30 countries and regions use “$” as their local currency symbol. Common distinguishing methods include:
฿ Symbol’s Dual Meaning
The “฿” symbol typically represents Thailand’s currency—the Baht—in forex markets. However, in the cryptocurrency realm, this symbol is also used as a shorthand for Bitcoin. Context is key to accurately understanding its meaning.
Understanding the Meaning of Forex Currency Pairs
The core of forex trading is currency pairs, represented by two currency codes separated by a “/”. For example, EUR/USD indicates the exchange rate of euro against US dollar; GBP/JPY indicates the exchange rate of British pound against Japanese yen.
Taking USD/GBP as an example, this currency pair tells you: how many British pounds one US dollar can buy. The USD is called the “base currency” (the first), and GBP is called the “quote currency” or “counter currency” (the second). Investors buy or sell the base currency to exchange for the quote currency, seeking profit from exchange rate fluctuations.
Start your forex trading journey on Gate.io to enjoy trading in the global popular forex markets, flexible leverage, and real-time trading strategies. New users can receive a free $50,000 demo account to experience immediately!