Wonga

Slang Term British ★★★☆☆ Moderate Very Casual
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Meaning: Money, cash

钱、现金
Dinero, efectivo
お金、現金
돈, 현금

British slang for money, popularized in the 2000s-2010s partly through a payday loan company of the same name. Casual and often humorous.

英式俚语,指钱。2000-2010年代部分因同名发薪日贷款公司而流行。非正式,常带幽默感。
Argot británico para dinero, popularizado en los 2000-2010s en parte por una empresa de préstamos del mismo nombre. Casual y a menudo humorístico.
イギリスのスラングでお金のこと。2000-2010年代に同名の給料日ローン会社で広まった。カジュアルでしばしばユーモラス。
돈을 뜻하는 영국 속어. 2000~2010년대에 같은 이름의 소액 대출 회사를 통해 더 널리 알려짐. 비격식적이고 유머러스한 느낌.

Examples

  1. Got any wonga?
    有钱吗?
    ¿Tienes dinero?
    お金ある?
    돈 있어?
  2. That'll take some serious wonga.
    那要花不少钱。
    Eso va a requerir bastante dinero.
    それには結構金がかかるよ。
    그거 꽤 돈이 들 거야.
  3. I need to make some wonga.
    我得赚点钱。
    Necesito hacer algo de dinero.
    稼がないと。
    돈 좀 벌어야 해.
  4. Spending all your wonga on that?
    把钱都花在那上面了?
    ¿Gastando todo tu dinero en eso?
    それに全部使うの?
    그거에 돈 다 쓸 거야?

Pronunciation

/ˈwɒŋɡə/

Usage Guide

Context: informal, humorous

Tone: casual, playful

✓ Do Say

  • Got any wonga?
    有钱吗?
    ¿Tienes dinero?
    金ある?
    돈 있어?
  • Need some wonga.
    需要点钱
    Necesito algo de dinero
    お金いる
    돈 좀 필요해.
  • Loads of wonga.
    很多钱
    Mucho dinero
    たくさん金
    돈 엄청 많아.

✗ Don't Say

  • Very informal
    非常非正式
    Muy informal
    とてもカジュアル
    매우 비격식적
  • Associated with payday loans
    与发薪日贷款有关联
    Asociado con préstamos de día de pago
    給料日ローンと関連
    소액 대출(페이데이론)과 연관됨

Common Mistakes

Origin & History

Possibly from Romany 'wonga' meaning coal (valuable) or related to older slang. Became widely known through Wonga.com payday loan company in the 2010s.

Etymology: Possibly Romany origin, popularized by loan company

First recorded: British slang, popularized 2010s

Cultural Context

Era: Popularized 2010s

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Wonga.com payday loans (now defunct); British casual speech

Regional notes: British slang. Association with payday loans may be negative.

Variations

WongaThe wongaSerious wonga

Related Phrases

More From This Topic

Quid ★★★★★ British pound sterling (informal) Fiver ★★★★★ A five pound note Tenner ★★★★★ A ten pound note Loaded ★★★★★ Very wealthy, having lots of money Blow ★★★★★ To spend money quickly or wastefully Rip-off ★★★★★ A fraudulent overcharge or swindle
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