What does "paisa" mean?
A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of a Indian, Nepalese, or Pakistani rupee.
Paisa
/ˈpaɪsə/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of a Indian, Nepalese, or Pakistani rupee.
- Grammar: paisa is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: colombian, paise, santims, subunit.
- Useful contrasts: foreigner, outsider, rupee.
- Usage evidence: ... prison, talked about his relationship with drug traffickers in Mexico some twenty-five years before. His street gang had a relationship with a paisa wholesaler. An understanding of respect existed between Rubén's gang and its paisa supplier[…] Wrangler, a White man who associated with the Aryan Brotherhood while in priso, described how the changing demographics of his neighborhood led to his being introduced to paisas who were moving meth in from Mexico. […] Wrangler went on to describe a specific contact from his neighborhood, Carlos, who […] had gone on to become part of a Latino stret gang and later a prison gang and had a connection with a wholesaler.
How to use "paisa"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "paisa" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "paisa" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "paisa" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "paisa" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "paisa" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "colombian" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "paisa", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of a Indian, Nepalese, or Pakistani rupee.
- 2 A person hailing from the same country; in particular, a fellow Latino. slang
"... prison, talked about his relationship with drug traffickers in Mexico some twenty-five years before. His street gang had a relationship with a paisa wholesaler. An understanding of respect existed between Rubén's gang and its paisa supplier[…] Wrangler, a White man who associated with the Aryan Brotherhood while in priso, described how the changing demographics of his neighborhood led to his being introduced to paisas who were moving meth in from Mexico. […] Wrangler went on to describe a specific contact from his neighborhood, Carlos, who […] had gone on to become part of a Latino stret gang and later a prison gang and had a connection with a wholesaler."
- 3 a fractional monetary unit in Bangladesh and India and Nepal and Pakistan wordnet
- 4 A subdivision of currency, equal to one hundredth of a Bangladeshi taka.
- 5 A Latino who is not a gangster nor gang-affiliated. slang
"[The story] came to me in various versions from marero and paisa inmates who had been incarcerated in the early 2000s. “El Spyder. I knew him. He was sureño,” said Carlos, an[…]"
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A subdivision of currency, equal to one thousandth of an Omani rial.
- 7 A subdivision of various former currencies of India. historical
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"... prison, talked about his relationship with drug traffickers in Mexico some twenty-five years before. His street gang had a relationship with a paisa wholesaler. An understanding of respect existed between Rubén's gang and its paisa supplier[…] Wrangler, a White man who associated with the Aryan Brotherhood while in priso, described how the changing demographics of his neighborhood led to his being introduced to paisas who were moving meth in from Mexico. […] Wrangler went on to describe a specific contact from his neighborhood, Carlos, who […] had gone on to become part of a Latino stret gang and later a prison gang and had a connection with a wholesaler."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "paisa"?
Common synonyms include: colombian, paise, santims, subunit.
How do you use "paisa" in a sentence?
... prison, talked about his relationship with drug traffickers in Mexico some twenty-five years before. His street gang had a relationship with a paisa wholesaler. An understanding of respect existed between Rubén's gang and its paisa supplier[…] Wrangler, a White man who associated with the Aryan Brotherhood while in priso, described how the changing demographics of his neighborhood led to his being introduced to paisas who were moving meth in from Mexico. […] Wrangler went on to describe a specific contact from his neighborhood, Carlos, who […] had gone on to become part of a Latino stret gang and later a prison gang and had a connection with a wholesaler.
How do you pronounce "paisa"?
Pronounced /ˈpaɪsə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Hindi पैसा (paisā) / Urdu پَیسَہ (paisa), from Sauraseni Prakrit *𑀧𑀬𑀁𑀲 (*payaṃsa), presumably from unattested Sanskrit *पदांश (*padāṃśa), from पद (pada, “quarter”) + अंश (aṃśa, “part, piece”) in reference its historical value of ¹⁄₄ anna.
Etymology 2
From Spanish paisa, a shortening of paisano.