paisa

[pahy-sah, pahy-sah]

noun

plural

paise 

1. Also an aluminum coin and monetary unit, one 100th of the rupee of India, Nepal, and Pakistan.

2. poisha.

paisa

/ ˈpaɪsɑː /

noun

1. a monetary unit of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan worth one hundredth of a rupee

Word History and Origins

Origin of paisa¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from Hindi, Bengali paisā, probably from Sanskrit pāda “quarter” + aṃśa “quarter part”; pada ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of paisa¹

from Hindi

Example Sentences

He immediately called Minguela, whose cell number is saved in his phone under “paisa,” countryman.

From Los Angeles Times

While a majority of his peers were feeding from reggaeton’s roots in Puerto Rico, he decided to bring his paisa, or Medellín-born slang and style to breed a more personal brand of perreo.

From Los Angeles Times

Save for a denim jacket, the Mexican American singer-songwriter is decked out in black, an outfit befitting the reigning prince of paisa sadness.

From Los Angeles Times

The Spanish is paisa — countrified — while the English has the tough tone of someone who grew up off Vermont Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times

He was carrying a pistol he’d bought from a “paisa” who had gone back to Mexico, he told the board.

From Los Angeles Times