esterlina

Esterlina is the Spanish term commonly used to refer to the pound sterling, the official currency of the United Kingdom and, in some contexts, of British overseas territories. In Spanish-language financial writing and media, ester­lina is often encountered as a shorthand for GBP, while the full name libra esterlina or libra de Sterling is also used.

Etymology and usage: The word ester­lina derives from sterling, the English term for the currency. The exact origin of sterling is debated; theories point to associations with the early English coinage, or to forms such as "easterling" that denoted eastern traders. In Spanish, the form ester­lina appeared in older texts and remains in use in certain contexts, though libra esterlina is increasingly common in modern writing. The term can appear in phrases like cotización en esterlinas (exchange rates in pounds) or precio en esterlinas.

Currency characteristics: The pound sterling is issued by the Bank of England and is abbreviated GBP in ISO terminology. It is subdivided into 100 pence. The symbol for the currency is £, and it has historically been one of the world’s leading reserve currencies. In discussions about travel, trade, or finance, ester­lina often signals the UK currency in a Spanish-speaking context.

See also: Pound sterling, Bank of England, Libera esterlina.