¿Dolar o Peso? La Historia y Uso del Signo - Dollar or Peso? The History and Use of the Symbol

Learn Spanish and Go

Have you ever wondered why the dollar sign is used for both U.S. dollars and Mexican pesos? We’ve had students ask if ATMs in Mexico give out dollars or pesos, all because of that same “$” symbol. In this episode, we break down the real history behind the sign—from colonial-era Spanish pesos to silver mines and the American Revolution—and reveal how the U.S. didn’t create the symbol, but actually adopted it from Latin America.

Key Takeaways:

• The “$” symbol likely originated from the abbreviation “PS” for pesos, not from U.S. dollars.
• Mexico—and many other countries—used the symbol before the U.S. did.
• While the symbol is shared globally, each currency it represents is distinct and independent.

Relevant Links And Additional Resources:

• Boost your confidence in real-life Spanish conversations with our Spanish Immersion Retreats
• Level up your Spanish with our Podcast Membership
  • Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word
  • Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases
  • Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz

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1. ¿Dolar o Peso? La Historia y Uso del Signo - Dollar or Peso? The History and Use of the Symbol (00:00:00)

2. Bienvenida al Episodio 269 (00:00:31)

3. Preparativos para la Llegada (00:01:10)

4. El Tema del Dinero (00:02:19)

5. Historia del Signo del Dólar (00:04:45)

6. Orígenes del Signo del Peso (00:09:51)

7. Evolución del Dinero (00:12:22)

8. Uso Internacional del Signo (00:14:23)

9. Cómo Identificar Monedas (00:15:52)

10. Consejos para Viajeros (00:18:08)

11. Conclusiones sobre el Signo (00:20:35)