Quid

Quid is a slang term for the British pound sterling, used primarily in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In informal speech, one quid denotes one pound, and the term is commonly used in pricing and conversation, as in “twenty quid.” The official unit is the pound, with 100 pence to a pound, and financial or governmental references use the formal name rather than the slang.

The currency in use includes coins and banknotes. Common coins range from 1p to 2£, and banknotes include £5, £10, £20, and £50, with the pound symbol £ used in monetary notation. While prices are often quoted in pounds and pence, speakers frequently substitute the slang term quid in everyday talk.

Etymology for quid is uncertain. The term has been in use since at least the 18th century and has become deeply embedded in colloquial British English. It should be understood as a casual reference to currency rather than a formal unit of measurement.

In addition to its monetary sense, quid can refer to other concepts in English. In Commonwealth usage, a “quid” can mean a chew of tobacco. The phrase quid pro quo, of Latin origin, denotes a favor or advantage given in return for something else and is unrelated to the currency sense of quid.

Overall, quid is primarily a familiar, informal synonym for the pound used in everyday conversation, distinct from official terminology and formal financial writing.