Paisa is a noun used chiefly in South Asian contexts to denote a unit of currency in several countries (notably India and Pakistan) or, in some places, a monetary subunit. It can also appear in phrases meaning “money” or “pocket change.” The term often accompanies numbers and is used in everyday conversation, trading, and pricing. It carries local dialect nuances and pronunciation varies by region.
"The price is 50 paisa per item in the market."
"She gave me five paisa as a tip."
"In some areas, paisa is subdivided into smaller fractions."
"He counted the paisa in his pocket before paying the bus fare."
Paisa originates from Persian and Urdu/Hindi, deriving from the word paise (plural) and ultimately from Persian زبان paisa meaning money or payment. The concept spread through Indo-Persian and South Asian trade networks under Islamic rule, evolving to denote a monetary subunit linked to major currencies like the rupee and taka. The spelling paisa reflects Hindi-Urdu orthography and pronunciation; in many dialects the final -a can be reduced toward a schwa. The earliest written uses appear in 16th- to 18th-century South Asian economic texts and colonial records, where paisa signified a fractional unit of a larger currency. As modern currencies restructured, paisa remains a familiar term in everyday language for small denominations and pricing, preserving its cultural and linguistic resonance across regions with South Asian heritage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Paisa" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Paisa"
-isa sounds
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Paisa is typically pronounced as paɪˈsa with two syllables: PAY-sah, where the first syllable carries primary stress. The vowel in the first syllable is the diphthong in English 'eye' sound, and the second syllable has a soft schwa-like ending. In rapid speech you may hear a reduced final vowel: paɪsə. Audio references: listen to native speakers on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish to hear region-specific realizations. IPA: US/UK/AU pəˈaɪsə or paɪˈsa depending on speaker; aim for paɪˈsa in careful speech.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say-ing PA-ɪ-sə instead of paɪ-ˈsa), and mispronouncing the first syllable as a pure vowel rather than a diphthong. Another frequent error is vocalizing the second syllable with a hard 's' or dropping the final vowel, which can blur meaning. Correct by emphasizing the diphthong in the first syllable (paɪ) and creating a light, reduced final vowel (sə). Practice with minimal pairs paɪ-sə vs paɪ-sɜː.
US: commonly paɪˈsa or pəˈaɪsə with lighter final vowel in casual speech. UK: often paɪˈsa, with non-rhotic tendency; final vowel may be weaker. AU: similar to UK, but with broader vowels; final vowel can be more schwa-like. Across all, the key is the diphthong in the first syllable and a softened second syllable; keeping the first syllable stressed helps intelligibility. IPA references: US pəˈaɪsə, UK paɪˈsa, AU paɪˈsa.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable structure with a diphthong in the first syllable and a reduced final vowel that may be silent or barely audible, depending on context. Non-native speakers often misplace the stress or over-articulate the second syllable. Also, the word borrows from South Asian phonology, which can introduce unfamiliar vowel qualities and a non-native speaker’s tendency to flatten the diphthong. Focus on paɪ- as a clear diphthong and a soft, light -sə ending.
Yes. Unlike many English loanwords, paisa’s first syllable uses a strong diphthong that slides from /p/ to /aɪ/, and the second syllable often lands with a soft, quick /sə/ or /sa/ depending on the speaker’s language background. Learners should train their mouth to transition from a plosive /p/ to the high-front /aɪ/ smoothly, then relax the jaw for a light final /s/ and neutralized vowel. Listening practice with regional media is especially valuable.
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