paisa

noun

pai·sa pī-ˈsä

plural paisa a monetary subunit of the rupee (Nepal, Pakistan) and taka see rupee, taka at Money Table

plural paise pī-ˈsā

a monetary subunit of the rupee (India) see rupee at Money Table

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Hindi & Urdu paisā, a quarter-anna coin, from Old Indo-Aryan *padāmśa quarter part; akin to Sanskrit pada footstep and aṁśa part

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of paisa was in 1884

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

pair up

paisa

paisano

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Paisa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paisa. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

paisa

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

hobgoblin