Paisa

The paisa (Bengali: পয়সা, Hindi: पैसा, Urdu: پیسہ‎) is a monetary unit in several countries. Linguistic variants of paisa include poisha (Bengali: পয়সা, in Bangladesh) and baisa (Arabic: بيسة‎, in Oman). In India, Nepal and Pakistan, the paisa currently equals 1⁄₁₀₀ of a rupee. In Bangladesh, the poisha equals 1⁄₁₀₀ of a Bangladeshi taka. In Oman, the baisa equals 1⁄₁₀₀₀ of an Omani rial.

The word paisa is from Hindi & Urdu paisā, a quarter-anna coin, ultimately from Sanskrit term padāmśa meaning quarter part, pada - foot or quarter and aṁśa - part.

Until the 1950s in India and Pakistan (and before 1947 in British India), the paisa was equivalent to 3 pies, ¼ of an anna, or 1⁄₆₄ of a rupee. After the transition from a non-decimal currency to a decimal currency, the paisa was known as a naya paisa ("new paisa") for a few years.