stotinki

Stotinki are the subunit of the Bulgarian lev, the currency of Bulgaria. One lev equals 100 stotinki. The singular is stotinka and the plural is stotinki. The name derives from the Slavic root meaning hundredth, reflecting its role as the fractional part of a lev.

Stotinki have been the subdivision of the Bulgarian currency since the introduction of the lev in modern Bulgaria. The current monetary framework, including the subdivision into 100 stotinki per lev, has persisted through late-20th-century reforms. The issue and regulation of the currency are handled by the Bulgarian National Bank.

Denominations and usage: Coins are issued in stotinki, and there are also coins for higher denominations in lev (such as 1-lev and 2-lev coins) for larger amounts. Banknotes are issued in leva and carry values much larger than the subunit. In everyday life, prices are quoted and paid in leva and stotinki, with amounts typically expressed to two decimal places in the levs.

Legal and practical role: The stotinka remains the legal tender subunit of the Bulgarian lev, used for pricing, accounting, and change. While inflation and rounding practices can affect how precisely small sums are handled in cash, the stotinka continues to serve as the basic unit below one lev.