céntimo

The céntimo is a monetary subunit used in several currencies, equal to one hundredth of the base unit. In contemporary usage, the term most often refers to the subunit of the euro; for example, 1 euro equals 100 céntimos. In other Spanish-speaking contexts, céntimo can denote the cent of any currency, though many countries use terms such as centavo or simply cent. The word derives from Latin centum (100) and is cognate with the English cent and the French centime.

In the eurozone, coins exist for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 céntimos, and there are also 1- and 2-euro coins. Prices are commonly expressed in euros and céntimos, with the céntimo serving as the basic decimal unit of account for everyday transactions and pricing.

Historically, céntimo was also the subdivision of earlier Spanish currencies, notably the peseta, where 1 unidad monetaria was divided into 100 céntimos. While the euro has become the dominant currency in Spain and many other countries, the term céntimo remains the standard Spanish word for the euro’s cent and is used to denote very small monetary amounts in general.