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:

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.


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