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Plural of Euro

What Is the Plural of Euro?

The Quick Answer

The plural of "euro" is "euro" or "euros." In everyday English, "euros" is now the most common plural. (If you're referencing or editing EU legal documentation, copy the version in the original.)
Before we discuss the plural of "euro," it is worth highlighting that "euro" is not treated as a proper noun. In other words, it is written with a lowercase letter.

The plural of "euro" is most commonly written as "euro" in European Union (EU) legislation, even though this is at odds with the standard way of forming plurals in English. As a consequence of the plural "euro" being embedded in the early legal documentation that saw its launch, "euro" was widely used as the plural in the years after 2002, when most EU countries adopted the euro. These documents provided the precedent for writers searching for an answer to "what is the plural of euro?".

However, as the "euro" became embedded in daily life, less conscious thought was given to its plural, and the plural "euros" quickly overtook "euro" because "euros" sounds far more natural to native English speakers.

EU guidance now recommends that "euros" be used unless editing or quoting the original EU documentation that employs "euro."
  • The Council of Ministers Decision No 6/2005 of 22 November 2005 commits 482 million euro to the ninth European Development Fund. correct tick
  • ("Euro" was used in early EU legislation.)
  • I'm not paying 10 euros for a pint! correct tick
  • ("Euros" has overtaken "euro" as the plural because it sounds more natural to native speakers.)

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The Standard Rules for Forming the Plurals

The table below shows where the plurals "euro" and "euros" fit within the standard rules for forming the plurals of nouns in English.
Type Example of Type Forming the Plural Plural
Most Nouns cat
scythe
add s cats
scythes
Noun Ending s, sh, ch, x or z bus
dress
add es buses
dresses
Nouns ending [consonant] o mango
zero
tomato
euro
add either s or es
(There are no rules for this - you have to know.)
mangoes or mangos
zeros
tomatoes
euros
Nouns ending [vowel] o patio
ratio
add s patios
ratios
Nouns ending [consonant] y story
penny
change the y to an i and add es stories
pennies
Nouns ending [vowel] y storey (small British flag)
donkey
add s storeys
donkeys
Mass nouns air
rice
some nouns do not have a plural form
air
rice
Nouns ending f or fe dwarf
knife
ves and/or s
(There are no rules - you have to know.)
dwarfs
knives
Exceptions goose
louse
some nouns undergo a vowel or letters change geese
lice
More exceptions salmon
sheep
euro
some nouns do not change at all salmon
sheep
euro
Read more about English spelling rules.

Why Is There Confusion over the Plural of Euro?

Across the EU – as shown in this Wikipedia entry – there are several different words for "euro" and various plural endings depending on local language rules. As it was in English-speaking countries in the early days of the euro, so the plural of "euro" in several European countries remains "euro" (e.g., Denmark, Holland, Germany). As a result, English speakers routinely hear "euro" as the plural, which promotes its use, even though it is not how most native speakers naturally form the plural.
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.

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