Pound vs. Quid: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
The pound is the official currency of the United Kingdom, while quid is a slang term for the same currency.
Key Differences
The pound, officially known as the British pound sterling, is the currency of the United Kingdom. Quid, in contrast, is a colloquial term widely used in the UK to refer to the pound.
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Nov 15, 2023
"Pound" is the formal and internationally recognized name for the UK's currency. "Quid," however, is informal and used predominantly in spoken English within the UK.
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Nov 15, 2023
The term "pound" is used in official and financial contexts, such as banking and international trade. Quid is generally not used in formal or official financial documentation.
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One pound is subdivided into 100 pence. The term "quid" carries the same monetary value but lacks a formal subdivision reference.
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The symbol for the pound is £, used in both formal and informal contexts. There is no specific symbol for "quid" as it is a vernacular term.
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Nov 15, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Official Status
Official currency of the UK
Slang term for the same currency
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Usage Context
Formal and international use
Informal, predominantly in the UK
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In Financial Documents
Used in banking and official docs
Rarely used in official documentation
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Pound and Quid Definitions
Pound
A unit of currency in the UK, subdivided into 100 pence.
I need a few pounds for parking.
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Pound
The official monetary unit of the UK's economy.
The pound is stronger than the dollar today.
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Quid
Informal term for the currency used in the UK.
I spent twenty quid on lunch.
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Quid
Colloquial UK term for their monetary unit.
The taxi fare was five quid.
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Pound
A unit of apothecary weight equal to 12 ounces (373.242 grams). See Table at measurement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Quid
British slang for their national currency.
That's a lot of quids for a book.
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Nov 15, 2023
Pound
The primary unit of currency in the United Kingdom, worth 20 shillings or 240 old pence before the decimalization of 1971. Also called pound sterling.
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Oct 19, 2023
Quid
A member of a section of the Democratic-Republican Party between 1805 and 1811, following John Randolph of Roanoke. (From tertium quid.)
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Quid
Paired with quo, in reference to the phrase this for that: something offered in exchange for something else.
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Pound
The primary unit of currency in Ireland and Cyprus before the adoption of the euro.
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Quid
(historical) A sovereign or guinea, that is, a certain coin or amount of money.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
A primary unit of currency in Scotland before the Act of Union (1707). Also called pound scots.
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Quid
Pound sterling usually only used with a whole number of pounds
Seven quid for a toastie#English!toastie? You're joking aren't you?!
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Pound
An animal shelter, especially one operated by a public agency to house stray or confiscated animals.
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Pound
A tank or submerged cage, as on a boat, in which live fish or shellfish are kept.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
New England An establishment at which live lobsters are kept and sold, often also offering no-frills restaurant service.
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Pound
A place in which vehicles impounded by the authorities are held until redeemed by their owners.
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Oct 19, 2023
Quid
An English coin, a sovereign.
They invited him to come to-morrow, . . . and bring half a quid with him.
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Quid
To drop from the mouth, as food when partially chewed; - said of horses.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
To strike repeatedly and forcefully, especially with the hand or a tool
Pounded the nail with a hammer.
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Quid
Something for something; that which a party receives (or is promised) in return for something he does or gives or promises
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Pound
To instill by persistent, emphatic repetition
Pounded knowledge into the students' heads.
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Pound
To produce energetically, as from forceful use of the hands. Often used with out
"a tinny piano pounding out Happy Birthday down the block" (Laura Kascischke).
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Pound
To cause harm or loss to; affect adversely
Stocks that were pounded when energy prices rose.
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Pound
(Slang) To drink quickly (a beverage, especially an alcoholic one). Often used with back or down
Pounded back a few beers after work.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
A unit of mass equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces (= 453.592 g). Today this value is the most common meaning of "pound" as a unit of weight.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
A unit of mass equal to 12 troy ounces (≈ 373.242 g). Today, this is a common unit of mass when measuring precious metals, and is little used elsewhere.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
The unit of currency used in the United Kingdom and its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence. Symbol £.
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Pound
Any of various units of currency used in Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan and Syria, and formerly in the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Israel.
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Pound
Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States.
The Rhode Island pound; the New Hampshire pound
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Pound
(UK) A place for the detention of automobiles that have been illegally parked, abandoned, etc.
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
A kind of fishing net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
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Pound
(Newfoundland) a division inside a fishing stage where cod is cured in salt brine
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Pound
To pitch consistently to a certain location.
The pitcher has been pounding the outside corner all night.
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Pound
To beat strongly or throb.
As I tiptoed past the sleeping dog, my heart was pounding but I remained silent.
My head was pounding.
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Pound
(engineering) To make a jarring noise, as when running.
The engine pounds.
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Pound
To strike repeatedly with some heavy instrument; to beat.
With cruel blows she pounds her blubbered cheeks.
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Pound
To comminute and pulverize by beating; to bruise or break into fine particles with a pestle or other heavy instrument; as, to pound spice or salt.
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Pound
An inclosure, maintained by public authority, in which cattle or other animals are confined when taken in trespassing, or when going at large in violation of law; a pinfold.
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Pound
A kind of net, having a large inclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
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Pound
A certain specified weight; especially, a legal standard consisting of an established number of ounces.
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Pound
A British denomination of money of account, equivalent to twenty shillings sterling, and equal in value to about $4.86. There is no coin known by this name, but the gold sovereign is of the same value.
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Pound
A nontechnical unit of force equal to the mass of 1 pound with an acceleration of free fall equal to 32 feet/sec/sec
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Pound
United States writer who lived in Europe; strongly influenced the development of modern literature (1885-1972)
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Pound
A public enclosure for stray or unlicensed dogs;
Unlicensed dogs will be taken to the pound
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Oct 19, 2023
Pound
The act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows);
The sudden hammer of fists caught him off guard
The pounding of feet on the hallway
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Pound
Hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument;
The salesman pounded the door knocker
A bible-thumping Southern Baptist
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Pound
Strike or drive against with a heavy impact;
Ram the gate with a sledgehammer
Pound on the door
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Pound
Partition off into compartments;
The locks pound the water of the canal
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Pound
Shut up or confine in any enclosure or within any bounds or limits;
The prisoners are safely pounded
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Pound
Break down and crush by beating, as with a pestle;
Pound the roots with a heavy flat stone
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Pound
The pound is the official currency of the United Kingdom.
The price is listed as £50.
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Nov 15, 2023
Pound
A widely used currency in international financial markets.
The pound's exchange rate fluctuates daily.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can I use quid in official documents?
No, it's better to use "pound" in official or formal documents.
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Nov 15, 2023
Is there a symbol for quid?
No, quid does not have a specific symbol; the pound symbol (£) is used.
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Nov 15, 2023
Is quid widely accepted in the UK?
Yes, quid is widely understood and used in the UK.
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Is the pound a stable currency?
The pound is considered one of the more stable and strong currencies globally.
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Is quid used outside the UK?
Quid is mostly used within the UK and is less known internationally.
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Are pound and quid interchangeable?
In informal speech, yes, but not in formal contexts.
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Can quid be used in banking?
In informal conversation, yes, but not in official banking terminology.
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Where is the pound used besides the UK?
It's also used in British Overseas Territories.
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What is the plural form of quid?
Quid remains "quid" in the plural, not "quids."
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Why is quid a popular term?
It's part of colloquial speech and UK cultural vernacular.
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Is the pound used in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes, the pound is used throughout the United Kingdom.
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Nov 15, 2023
Do other countries use a pound currency?
Other countries have their own versions of the pound, like the Egyptian pound.
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Is the value of a quid equal to a pound?
Yes, a quid is equal in value to a pound.
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Nov 15, 2023
How is the value of a pound determined?
The value is determined by financial markets and the UK's economic performance.
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Can I write cheques using quid?
It's advisable to write "pounds" on cheques for clarity and formality.
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Nov 15, 2023
Why is the pound symbolized by £?
The symbol derives from the Latin word "libra," which means pound.
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Nov 15, 2023
How do tourists use quid in the UK?
Tourists can use the term quid when conversing casually about prices.
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Nov 15, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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