Euro Sign

	HTML	Meaning
€	€ € U+20AC	Euro Sign This is the official symbol for the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union.
₠	₠ U+20A0	European Currency Unit The European Currency Unit (ECU) was the precursor to the euro. The ECU was a basket currency introduced in the European Community. It's not in use anymore but represents the history of the euro.
💶	💶 U+1F4B6	Euro Sign with emoji variation Euro symbol rendered in an emoji style due to the variation selector. May appear more graphic or colorful on certain platforms.
$	$ U+24	Dollar Sign Represents the dollar, used as the official currency in several countries, most notably the United States.
£	£ £ U+A3	Pound Sterling Symbol Represents the pound sterling, the official currency of the United Kingdom and some of its territories.
¥	¥ ¥ U+A5	Yen Symbol Indicates the official currency of Japan and is also used in China to represent the yuan.

What is the Euro Sign?

The euro sign, denoted as €, is the symbol used to represent the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union. The Eurozone comprises 19 of the 27 European Union (EU) member states.

Origins of the Euro Sign

The euro sign was created in 1996 and officially unveiled on 12 December of the same year. The design was inspired by the Greek letter epsilon (ε), a reference to Europe, and the two parallel lines signify stability.

How to Use the Euro Sign for International Communication

The euro sign (€) is used in various formats across countries in the European Union. However, when communicating with an international audience, especially one that includes non-EU members, certain formats are clearer and more universally recognized.

Your Local Format: €1,000.23

This format reflects the common convention within your specific region or country. Using this format ensures clarity and consistency in local communications.

International Standard Format: €1,000.23

This format, similar to the US dollar representation, is recommended for international or non-EU audiences due to its widespread recognition. Misinterpreting the format can lead to significant discrepancies, especially when dealing with larger sums.

Guidelines for Using the Euro Sign in Different EU Countries

• Symbol Placement:
  • Standard (Widely used including English): €50
  • French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Finnish, and Catalan: 50 €
• Decimal Separator:
  • Standard (Widely used including English): period as decimal (€1.99)
  • Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and many others: comma as decimal (€1,99)
• Thousands Separator:
  • France, Italy, Spain, and Belgium use a space: €1 234,56
• Spacing:
  • Standard (Widely used including English): No space between symbol and amount (€50)
  • Languages like French, Italian, Finnish, and Catalan use a space, often a narrow non-breaking space, between the symbol and amount (50 €).
• Similar Symbols: Avoid confusing the euro symbol (€) with symbols like epsilon (ε).
• EU and Euro Assumption: Not all EU countries use the euro; for instance, Denmark doesn't.
• Unofficial Currency Codes: Always use "EUR" for the euro and avoid other abbreviations.

Countries Using the Euro

The euro is used by 19 of the 27 EU member states. Here's a brief list of countries that have adopted the euro:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain

Additionally, non-EU countries such as Kosovo and Montenegro also use the euro as their official currency.

Countries Not Using the Euro

• Denmark: Krone (kr, DKK)
• Sweden: Swedish Krona (kr, SEK)
• Poland: Złoty (zł, PLN)
• Czech Republic: Czech koruna (Kč, CZK)
• Hungary: Forint (Ft, HUF)
• Romania: Leu (lei, RON)
• Bulgaria: Bulgarian lev (лв, BGN)
• Croatia: Croatian kuna (kn, HRK)
• United Kingdom: Pound Sterling (£, GBP)

It's important to note that while these countries are in Europe, they have chosen not to adopt the euro as their official currency for various reasons, ranging from economic considerations to national sentiment.

How to Type the Euro Sign Using Keyboard Shortcuts and Alt Codes

• On Windows: Hold down the Alt key on your keyboard and type 0128 on the numeric keypad, then release the Alt key.
• On Mac: Press Option + Shift + 2.
• On many Linux systems: Press Ctrl + Shift + u, then type 20ac and press Enter.
• For HTML coding: Use the named entity € or the numeric entity €.

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