Lessons·adults · advanced
Banking & Money
Master the financial vocabulary used in Britain's City of London — from reading the FT to talking confidently about markets, investments, and banking.
About 25 minutes
The City of London
The 'Square Mile' — London's historic financial district — stands as one of the world's most vital financial centres, alongside New York and Hong Kong. It is home to the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange, and thousands of banks, hedge funds, and investment firms. If you want to build a career in British finance, read the Financial Times, or simply understand the business news, mastering financial English is absolutely essential. The vocabulary is incredibly precise, the professional tone is measured, and the culture highly values understatement, even when the markets are in absolute chaos.
Türkçe
Londra'nın tarihi finans bölgesi olan 'Square Mile', New York ve Hong Kong ile birlikte dünyanın en hayati finans merkezlerinden biri olarak öne çıkıyor. İngiltere Merkez Bankası, Londra Borsası ve binlerce banka, serbest fon ve yatırım şirketine ev sahipliği yapmaktadır. İngiliz finans sektöründe bir kariyer inşa etmek, Financial Times okumak veya sadece ekonomi haberlerini anlamak istiyorsanız, finansal İngilizceye hakim olmak kesinlikle şarttır. Kelime dağarcığı son derece kesindir, profesyonel üslup ölçülüdür ve piyasalar mutlak bir kaos içindeyken bile kültür, abartıdan kaçınmaya büyük değer verir.
Core Finance Vocabulary
| English | Türkçe |
|---|---|
| bull marketWe've been in a bull market for three years — prices keep rising. | yükseliş piyasası / boğa piyasasıÜç yıldır boğa piyasası içindeyiz; fiyatlar yükselmeye devam ediyor. |
| bear marketThe tech sell-off has pushed us firmly into bear market territory. | düşüş piyasası / ayı piyasasıTeknoloji hisselerindeki satış dalgası bizi net bir şekilde ayı piyasasına soktu. |
| yieldUK gilt yields rose sharply after the Budget announcement. | getiri / verimBütçe açıklamasının ardından UK gilt getirileri keskin bir şekilde yükseldi. |
| equityShe moved out of bonds and into equities when rates started falling. | hisse senedi / öz sermayeFaizler düşmeye başladığında tahvillerden çıkıp hisse senetlerine yöneldi. |
| liquidityThe central bank stepped in to provide liquidity to the banking system. | likidite / nakit akışı kolaylığıMerkez bankası, bankacılık sistemine likidite sağlamak için devreye girdi. |
Using the Passive Voice for Authority
Financial news and formal reports rely heavily on the passive voice. It removes the agent (the person doing the action), making statements sound objective, authoritative, and focused on the outcome rather than the actor.
Why use it?
✓ Use passive to project authority and objectivity in reports.
✗ Avoid starting every sentence with 'We' or 'They' in formal financial writing.
Activity — Passive Voice in Finance
Fill the gaps and check your answers as you go. Free account needed.
Morning Briefing at the Office
James: Have you seen the gilt yields this morning? They've been pushed up by the latest jobs data.
Elif: Yes — it looks like a rate cut has been priced out for the next two meetings at least.
James: Exactly. Our bond portfolio is going to take a hit. I'm thinking we rotate into equities.
Elif: That makes sense in a bull market, but the upcoming earnings season hasn't been looking great. How's our liquidity?
James: We're fine on that front. The dividend income from the blue chips has held up remarkably well.
Elif: Good. What's the view from the desk on sterling?
James: Mixed. It's been weakened by the trade data, but some support is expected once the Chancellor's Budget is digested.
Elif: I'll hedge the dollar exposure for now — it feels far too risky to leave it open over the weekend.
James: Agreed. There's a briefing at eleven — can you pull together a summary of our portfolio positions?
Elif: Already on it. I'll have it with you by half ten.
The Old Lady & City Jargon
The Bank of England is affectionately known as 'The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street', a nickname dating back to an 18th-century political cartoon. British banking culture is full of such quirks. While the aggressive, red-braces-wearing trader of the 1980s is mostly a Hollywood cliché now, City workers still use a highly specific jargon. You might hear someone say a deal went 'pear-shaped' (went wrong) or that they are 'chuffed' (pleased) with their annual bonus. Despite the global nature of modern finance, these uniquely British idioms remain firmly entrenched in the Square Mile.
Türkçe
İngiltere Merkez Bankası, 18. yüzyıldan kalma siyasi bir karikatüre dayanan bir lakapla, sevgiyle 'Threadneedle Sokağı'nın Yaşlı Kadını' olarak bilinir. İngiliz bankacılık kültürü bu tür ilginçliklerle doludur. 1980'lerin agresif, kırmızı pantolon askılı borsa işlemcisi artık çoğunlukla bir Hollywood klişesi olsa da, City çalışanları hala oldukça spesifik bir jargon kullanıyor. Birinin bir anlaşmanın 'armut şeklini aldığını' (ters gittiğini) veya yıllık primlerinden 'memnun' (chuffed) olduklarını söylediğini duyabilirsiniz. Modern finansın küresel doğasına rağmen, bu tamamen İngilizlere özgü deyimler Square Mile'da sağlam bir şekilde yerini korumaktadır.
Discussing Investment Strategies with Emma
Say it out loud to a British AI tutor and get feedback on your pronunciation. Free account needed.
Writing an Investment Strategy Brief
Write your answer and have it marked, with corrections. Free account needed.
Now actually practise it
Reading a lesson is the easy half. A free account unlocks the parts that make it stick — listen to every word in a British accent, test yourself on the quiz, and use it in a live conversation with Emma. Your progress is saved and the words come back for review before you forget them.