What is 20 in UK slang?

What’s Twenty in UK Slang? It’s a Bit of a Mouthful

When you're chatting in a London pub or haggling at a market in Manchester, you’ll quickly learn that Brits don’t always say “pound” when talking money. Instead, they’ve got a whole vocabulary of slang that turns everyday transactions into something a little more colourful.

Everyone knows “a quid” means one pound — it’s practically universal. Step it up and you’ve got “a fiver” for a £5 note and “a tenner” for £10. But what about £20? That’s where things get a bit more interesting.

A score is one way to refer to twenty pounds. It’s not the most common term today, but it still pops up, especially among older generations or in classic British films. The word “score” historically means twenty — think of Abraham Lincoln’s “four score and seven years ago” — so it’s no surprise it made its way into UK slang.

Another, even rarer nickname is a pony. Yes, really. While “pony” might conjure up images of small horses, in slang terms it’s been used for decades to mean £25 — though some regions occasionally bend it for a £20. Still, “a score” fits more naturally with the pattern of “fiver” and “tenner.”

These terms aren’t just quirky — they’re part of the rhythm of British conversation. Hearing someone ask, “Got a score on you?” feels more natural than a straight “Do you have twenty pounds?”

So next time you’re in the UK and someone owes you, don’t be surprised if they say, “I’ll get you a score next time.” Just make sure they’re not trying to pay with a horse.