Dictionary / Money
How to Say "Money" in French
L'argent
/laʁ.ʒɑ̃/
Literally: The silver
L'
the
argent
money / silver
Good to know
L'argent is neutral and works everywhere. Le fric and le pognon are common slang and are fine among friends, but not at a bank counter or with anyone you would address as vous.
Correct
L'argent
What people say wrong
La monnaie
the change, the coins
The mistake to avoid. Monnaie looks like money and is not. It means change, the coins in your pocket, so je n'ai pas de monnaie says you cannot break a note, not that you are broke. The two words sit one shelf apart in exactly the situations where you need them: asking for change at a till, or explaining you cannot afford something. Argent also means silver, which is why it is the word for money in the first place.
In context
Je n'ai pas d'argent sur moi.
I don't have any money on me.
Vous avez de la monnaie pour le parcmètre ?
Do you have change for the parking meter?
L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
Money doesn't buy happiness.