This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Dutch to English
  3. Finance (general)

on the matter of euros...

English translation: € 123.45 or EUR 123.45

16:44 Dec 7, 2004
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Finance (general)
Dutch term or phrase: on the matter of euros...
I am translating back into English a contract that has been translated into Dutch/Flemish and then proof-read and loads of amendments made. They seem to have fiddled about a lot with the formatting of how the money is written down.
The original English reads, e.g.

such and such a product = Euro 123,45.

However, I've got into the habit of writing 123,45 euros OR EUR 123,45. It seems they don't want to use the euro symbol, as it has been deleted and replaced whenever it appears. Is Euro 123,45 correct in English?
Lucy Spring
English translation:€ 123.45 or EUR 123.45
Explanation:
Use 'euros' as you would use the word 'pounds' or 'dollars'. If putting in front of a monetary sum and don't want to use the symbol €, use the ISO code for the euro which is 'EUR'. Thus 'EUR 123.45'(and NB it should surely be a stop rather than a comma in English...). This is the rule laid down by the EU's in-house style guide. I don't think 'Euro' in front of the sum is usual, at least I've never seen it.
Selected response from:

Alison Gaunt
Local time: 07:11
Grading comment
Going with Kenneth's suggestion, I'll leave it as it is, to appease the client. I did find one or two Irish websites that used that form, and since English is their native language, who am I to argue?
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7€ 123.45 or EUR 123.45
Alison Gaunt
4 +1yes, Euro 123,45 is correct
Iris70


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
yes, Euro 123,45 is correct


Explanation:
-

Iris70
Local time: 08:11
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rodi
2 mins
neutral  Evert DELOOF-SYS: Correct me if I'm wrong but I always thought you had to write a '.', a decimal point in English - In Dutch you indeed need to write a comma
18 mins
  -> right you are :-)
agree  AllisonK (X): with Evert; in English it's a period, not a comma
48 mins
disagree  jarry (X): The decimal comma becomes a decimal point in English language texts. That's elementary my dear Watson!
2 hrs
  -> thanks Sherlock, but Evert had already pointed that out to me:-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
€ 123.45 or EUR 123.45


Explanation:
Use 'euros' as you would use the word 'pounds' or 'dollars'. If putting in front of a monetary sum and don't want to use the symbol €, use the ISO code for the euro which is 'EUR'. Thus 'EUR 123.45'(and NB it should surely be a stop rather than a comma in English...). This is the rule laid down by the EU's in-house style guide. I don't think 'Euro' in front of the sum is usual, at least I've never seen it.

Alison Gaunt
Local time: 07:11
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Going with Kenneth's suggestion, I'll leave it as it is, to appease the client. I did find one or two Irish websites that used that form, and since English is their native language, who am I to argue?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Evert DELOOF-SYS: exactly, should be a stop / decimal point
11 mins
agree  AllisonK (X)
41 mins
agree  Joost Simons
1 hr
agree  jarry (X): See my comments to Iris70's and seaMount's suggested answers.
2 hrs
agree  Marijke Singer
4 hrs
agree  Ken Cox: €123.45 (no space). And if the client really wants 'Euro xxx', why annoy them? Naturally it's incorrect, but it's still understandable. I'd suggest asking the client, with an explanation of the usual convention (the Belgians are very fond of 'Euro xxx').
5 hrs
agree  Chris Hopley: and with Kenneth
18 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search