finif
Dated American slang, rooted in Yiddish, for a five-dollar bill.
Definitions
Dated American slang, rooted in Yiddish, for a five-dollar bill. The word comes from the Yiddish finf meaning five, carried into American slang through the influence of Jewish immigrant communities in the early 20th century. While largely old-fashioned today, finif belongs to a rich tradition of Yiddish-influenced American street slang alongside words like sawbuck (ten dollars) and deuce (two dollars). Still turns up in vintage crime fiction and old-school New York slang discussions.
He slipped the newsboy a finif and told him to keep the change.
Comments
(US, _, slang, dated) A five-dollar bill .
Finif means: A five-dollar bill .. It is informal slang, fine in casual speech but not suited to formal contexts. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
finif means: A five-dollar bill .. Register: dated, informal. Suitable only for casual conversation, chat and social media. Do not use in business, academic or news writing. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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- finnip79%
British slang, now largely obsolete, for a five-pound banknote. The term was common in 19th and early 20th century British street and criminal cant, likely derived from a corruption of the word 'fiver.' While most modern Brits reach for 'fiver' today, 'finnip' still pops up occasionally in period fiction, pub trivia, and discussions of old money slang.
- finnip73%
(UK, slang, obsolete) A five-pound banknote.
- finnuf73%
(UK, slang, archaic) A five-pound (£5) note; the sum of five pounds.
- five-spot65%
American informal slang for a five-dollar bill. The 'spot' construction is part of a family of American slang denominations: a 'fin' or 'five-spot' for $5, a 'sawbuck' for $10, a 'C-note' for $100. 'Spot' in this context refers to the denomination on the face of the bill.