Plural of Penny
The correct plural of “penny” depends on sense. In present-day UK money, “pence” is used when stating an amount or number of penny units, while “pennies” refers to individual penny coins. In the US and Canada, the one-cent coin has plural “pennies.” Both forms are real plurals, but they are not freely interchangeable in every currency context.
“Penny” has the plurals “pence” and “pennies.” In UK money, use “pence” for amounts/units and “pennies” for individual coins; the US/Canadian cent sense uses “pennies.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| UK amount / units | pence | Amount/unit plural. |
| individual UK penny coins | pennies | Coin-count plural. |
| US/Canadian one-cent coins | pennies | Ordinary plural. |
Quick tests
Plural-choice test
Are you expressing a UK monetary amount rather than counting individual coins?
If yes: Use “pence.”
If no: Use “pennies” for individual penny coins and the North American cent sense.
Caveat: Older historical currency contexts can have their own conventions; this guide focuses on the current dictionary distinctions.
Examples
The stamp costs fifty pence.
A UK amount uses “pence.”
She keeps pennies in a jar.
Individual coins use “pennies.”
He found three pennies on the sidewalk.
The North American cent sense uses “pennies.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “pence” for UK amounts/units, “pennies” for individual penny coins, and “pennies” for the North American cent sense.
Fast Test
First identify the currency and whether you mean an amount/unit or individual coins.
Usage Boundary
Do not teach “pence” and “pennies” as unrestricted synonyms in every context.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- PENNY | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge distinguishes pence for amounts/units in UK money from pennies for individual coins and other countable penny senses.
- PENNY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records plural pennies or pence, with pennies specifically for the US cent sense.