The € symbol is the euro, not the pound. It stands for the euro (EUR), the shared currency of 21 European countries. The pound is a completely different currency with its own symbol, £, and its own code, GBP. So € always means euro.
Key Takeaways
- The € symbol is the euro, with the currency code EUR.
- The £ symbol is the pound sterling, with the code GBP.
- The euro is used by 21 European countries; the pound is mainly used in the United Kingdom.
- They are two of the most traded currencies in the world, but they are not the same.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD are separate major forex pairs, each with its own behaviour.
The € Symbol Explained
The € sign is the official symbol of the euro. Its design was inspired by the Greek letter epsilon and the first letter of the word Europe, and the two parallel lines across the middle are meant to signal stability. The euro launched as an accounting currency in 1999, with notes and coins arriving in 2002.
Today the euro is the official currency of 21 of the 27 European Union countries, a group known as the eurozone, and is managed by the European Central Bank. It is the second most traded and held reserve currency in the world, behind only the US dollar, which is why it features so often in the list of most traded currencies.
The £ Symbol Is the Pound
The pound has nothing to do with the € sign. Pound sterling uses the £ symbol, which comes from the Latin word libra, meaning a unit of weight. Its code is GBP, and it is the official currency of the United Kingdom, managed by the Bank of England.
Here is the clean side-by-side so the two never get mixed up again.
| Feature | Euro | Pound Sterling |
| Symbol | € | £ |
| Currency code | EUR | GBP |
| Main region | 21 eurozone countries | United Kingdom |
| Central bank | European Central Bank | Bank of England |
| Launched | 1999 (coins and notes 2002) | Centuries old, one of the oldest currencies |
In face value, the pound is usually worth more than both the euro and the dollar. If you want the detail, our guide on whether the pound is stronger than the dollar breaks it down, and the most valuable currency page puts both in a wider ranking.
Why People Confuse Them
The mix-up is understandable. Both are major European currencies, both sit close together on maps and menus, and both are common in travel and trade. Someone unfamiliar with the € sign might assume any European currency symbol could be the pound. The shapes are different, though, and once you have seen them side by side the difference sticks.
Other Currency Symbols You Will See in Forex
Once you start trading or travelling, you will meet plenty of currency symbols. Here are the common ones so none of them catch you out.
| Symbol | Currency | Code |
| € | Euro | EUR |
| £ | British pound | GBP |
| $ | US dollar (and others) | USD |
| ¥ | Japanese yen | JPY |
| Fr | Swiss franc | CHF |
| A$ | Australian dollar | AUD |
Trading the Euro and the Pound
In forex, the euro and the pound trade as separate instruments. EUR/USD is the most traded pair in the world, while GBP/USD is another heavyweight. Both are major currency pairs, and you can find them alongside the full forex currency pairs list on Defcofx. They can move very differently on the same day, which is exactly why knowing which is which matters.
Trade Currencies With Defcofx
Trade both the euro and the pound against the dollar and each other on Defcofx through MetaTrader 5. Open a demo to practise reading quotes, or go live for the 40% welcome bonus.
| Feature | What Defcofx Offers |
| Spreads | Tight spreads from 0.5 pips on major currency pairs |
| Leverage | Flexible leverage up to 1:2000 (indices capped at 1:200) |
| Fees | Zero commissions and zero swap fees |
| Welcome bonus | 40% bonus on a first deposit of $1,000 or more |
| Platform | MetaTrader 5 with fast execution and full charting |
| Withdrawals | Processed within 3 hours, including weekends |
| Access | Clients welcome from all countries, multiple languages |
FAQ
It means euro. The € symbol is the official sign for the euro (EUR). The pound uses a different symbol, £, and the code GBP.
The pound sterling uses the £ symbol, taken from the Latin word libra. Its currency code is GBP.
No. They are two separate currencies. The euro is used across 21 eurozone countries, while the pound is the currency of the United Kingdom.
The pound is usually worth more than the euro in face value, though exchange rates change constantly based on economic conditions.
Both are major European currencies used widely in travel and trade, so people unfamiliar with the symbols sometimes mix up € and £.
As of 2026, 21 of the 27 European Union countries use the euro, after Bulgaria joined the eurozone on 1 January 2026.
Yes. EUR/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/GBP, and many other pairs are available on MetaTrader 5 with spreads from 0.5 pips and no swap fees.
Discover More Forex Topics with Defcofx
Want to learn more about currencies and forex trading? Explore these related guides from Defcofx:
- List of World Currencies — Learn about major global currencies, their ISO codes, and how different currencies are represented in the forex market.
- What Are the 7 Major Currency Pairs? — Explore EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, and other major forex pairs and understand how they differ.
- List of Major and Minor Forex Pairs — Compare major and minor currency pairs, including EUR/GBP, GBP/JPY, EUR/CHF, and other cross pairs.
- What Are the 7 Minor Currency Pairs? — Learn how cross-currency pairs such as EUR/GBP and GBP/JPY work without the US dollar.
- G10 Currency Pairs: List, Meaning & Examples — Explore the major G10 currencies and the forex pairs built from them.
- Base Currency: Definition, Meaning & Example — Understand why the first currency in a pair, such as EUR in EUR/USD, is called the base currency.
- Correlated Forex Pairs List — Learn how pairs such as EUR/USD and GBP/USD can move in relation to each other and why correlation matters.
- Trade GBP/USD with Defcofx — Explore GBP/USD, also known as Cable, including its market characteristics and trading conditions.