166 There is no such thing as Euros

according to [url]http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/L/Li/Linguistic_issues_concerning_the_Euro.htm[/url]

"Official practice followed in Quick Facts about: English-language
Quick Summary not found for this subjectEnglish-language EU legislation is to use the words euro and cent as both singular and plural. (*) This practice arose out of legislation intended to ensure that the banknotes were uncluttered with a string of plurals (as the Soviet Quick Facts about: ruble
The basic unit of money in Russiaruble notes were). Because the s-less plurals had become "enshrined" in EU legislation, the Commission decided to retain those plurals in legislation, but the European Commission Translation Service strongly recommends that in all material generated by the Commission intended for the general public, "the natural plurals" of each language be used.

In Quick Facts about: Ireland
An island comprising the republic of Ireland and Northern IrelandIreland, however, the Quick Facts about: Irish Ministry for Finance
Quick Summary not found for this subjectIrish Ministry for Finance decided to use the word euro as both the singular and plural forms of the currency, and because Irish broadcasters took their cue from the Ministry for Finance, the "legislative plurals" tend to also be used on the news and in much Irish advertising. This has the effect of reinforcing the s-less plurals, though many advertisers (particularly those in the UK) prefer the natural plurals in -s.

While many people in Ireland strongly prefer the natural plurals – and at the time the s-less plurals were introduced, some complained that the EU had no business changing English grammar – other people have become accustomed to what they hear on daily television and radio, and to the s-less plurals which they see written on the notes and coins. While usage in Ireland is disputed, common usage in the UK prefers euros and cents as the plural forms. Broadcasts of currency exchange rates outside the European Union tend to use the -s plural; with NPR in the United States and the CBC in Canada being two examples."

the word euro has greek origins (and as many other words) is the same also in latin. In greek the plural of euro is euro - hence the convention.

Apparently the most upset with this convention are the Lithuanians who would normally write euras, eurue, eura, euru, eure, eurai, eurams, eurus, eurais and eurose, depending on the word's function in a sentence.

As for the Italians, they are quite happy with euro as the plural form - as long as someone tells them what does that mean in "vecchie lire" ;), which they all insist to still use (espeically when it comes to big sums).

[QUOTE=ronald]the word euro has greek origins (and as many other words) is the same also in latin. In greek the plural of euro is euro - hence the convention.

Apparently the most upset with this convention are the Lithuanians who would normally write euras, eurue, eura, euru, eure, eurai, eurams, eurus, eurais and eurose, depending on the word's function in a sentence.

As for the Italians, they are quite happy with euro as the plural form - as long as someone tells them what does that mean in "vecchie lire" ;), which they all insist to still use (espeically when it comes to big sums).[/QUOTE]

I do business in Italy and have noted that people prefer referring to "vecchie lire" when they are selling because it sounds cheaper. This might sound bizarre with all those zeros but most people divide in their heads by 2000 to bring back to Euro, when 1936,27 is the true rate. Thus a house offered at a billion lire might be within your budget of Euro 500K but the vendor is actually asking Euro 516.456,90. This is a good example of "furbizia" - that characteristic much admired by Berlusconi supporters.