ESL Podcast 626 - Wiring Money to Another Country

emergency - an unexpected situation that requires immediate action or an immediate response because it is dangerous or will have other serious consequences or results

If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

cash - paper or metal money; not checks or credit cards

Do you have enough cash to pay for the taxi ride?

to wire - to send something electronically, usually when talking about money or telegraph messages, and usually over a large distance

Once you sign here and wire the money to our bank, the new house will be yours.

to process - to do the paperwork for something; to respond officially to an application or request

How long does it take the Department of Motor Vehicles to process a request to renew a driver's license?

Western Union - a company that lets customers send money electronically almost anywhere in the world

Don't forget to go to the local Western Union office to pick up the money that your sister sent you.

blank - empty; without anything written on a page or in a particular space

If you don't know the answer to a question on the test, just leave it blank.

to fill (something) out - to write or type information where it is requested on a form

To create an account, please fill out the form on our website.

money transfer - money sent electronically from one person or bank account to another, usually over a large distance

Each semester, his parents send him a money transfer so that he can pay the university's tuition

recipient - a person who receives something; the person who gets something from another person

Have you decided who will be the recipient of your money and other things after you die?

sender - a person who sends something; the person who arranges for another person to get something that he or she has

Usually the sender's address is written in the upper left-hand corner of the envelope.

local currency - the type of money used in a particular country, such as dollars, euros, yen, or rubles

When there was a lot of inflation in the country, people preferred to use U.S. dollars instead of the local currency.

to calculate - to use math to find the answer to something, especially to find out how much something will cost or how much of something there will be

Do you know how to calculate a 15% tip on the restaurant bill?

exchange rate - the amount of one currency that can be used to buy one unit of another currency

As the exchange rate increased, people were able to afford more imported products.

fee - an amount of money charged by a government, organization, or business for a particular purpose

If you don't pay your rent by the fifth of each month, you'll have to pay a $25 late fee.

business day - one of the days when most businesses are open; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday; not Saturday or Sunday

We try to respond to all emails within one business day.

control number - a number assigned to a specific transaction so that it can be observed or monitored

When you go to the bank, take the control number so that they can look up your transaction in case there are any problems.

lifesaver - a person who makes a situation much easier or more pleasant; a person who helps someone out of a difficult or dangerous situation

If you can work my shift on Saturday, you'd be a lifesaver!

a matter of life and death - something that is very important and serious

For many sick patients, getting a kidney donation is a matter of life and death.