paisa
Americannoun
-
Also an aluminum coin and monetary unit, one 100th of the rupee of India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of paisa
First recorded in 1880–85; from Hindi, Bengali paisā, probably from Sanskrit pāda “quarter” + aṃśa “quarter part”; see origin at pada ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Viewers emerging from theatres call it "paisa vasool" - a punchy Hindi phrase for "you got your money's worth".
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
The man’s sister, who had both the paisa and reelin mutations, began developing cognitive impairment at age 58 and severe dementia at 64 — later than average for someone with the paisa mutation.
From Scientific American ● May 17, 2023
At times, it is less than one paisa for large quantities, he said, suggesting the RBI has been fairly active, including on Wednesday.
From Reuters ● Feb. 22, 2023
West Hollywood doesn’t have the cultural outlet that Rodriguez and other queer vaqueros are looking for, and the straight paisa bars typically found in South L.A. or the Eastside are not welcoming, either.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
Sometimes we bought her smoked corn on the cob sprinkled with lemon juice, or two paisa caramels.
From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri
For a few paise he sold them golf balls that had been lost or abandoned on the course.
From The New Yorker ● Jun. 3, 2013
Sample: "To make a payment of 36 naye paise, you first pay 4 annas or 25 naye paise, then pay the balance of 11 naye paise by tendering 1 anna and 9 pies."
From Time Magazine Archive
Later, they pitched a tent on the sidewalk and started selling their own coffee at 25 paise a cup.
From Time Magazine Archive
These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, “Business as usual.”
From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel
Howsever, it’s too thrue, but me moral strength is wonderful, so you’re heartily welcome, if ye can slaip on a plank floor an’ ait salt-pork an’ paise.
From Digging for Gold Adventures in California by Ballantyne, R. M. (Robert Michael)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
