paga
/PAH-gah/
pay
As a noun, 'paga' means 'pay' or 'wages'.
paga(noun)
pay
?salary/wages
,wages
?regular earnings
salary
?monthly income
,installment
?a scheduled payment
📝 In Action
Mi paga mensual llega el día 25.
A2My monthly pay arrives on the 25th.
Les dieron una paga extra por el trabajo nocturno.
B1They gave them extra wages for the night work.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Trap
Even though many financial terms are masculine, 'la paga' (pay/wages) is always feminine.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Noun and Verb
Mistake: "Using 'el paga' to mean 'the pay'."
Correction: The noun meaning 'pay' is always feminine: 'la paga'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Informal vs. Formal
'Paga' is often used informally in Spain, while 'sueldo' or 'salario' might be used more formally or in official documents.
As a verb, 'paga' means 'he/she/it pays' in the present tense.
paga(verb)
pays
?He/She/It pays (Present Tense)
,pay!
?You, informal command (Imperative)
is paying
?He/She/It is paying
📝 In Action
Mi hermano siempre paga la cena.
A1My brother always pays for dinner.
¡Paga lo que debes y vámonos!
B1Pay what you owe and let's go!
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change in the Preterite
To keep the 'g' sound hard (like the 'g' in 'go') when the following vowel is 'e', we add a silent 'u'. That's why 'yo pagué' (I paid) is spelled with 'gu'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronunciation in Preterite
Mistake: "Spelling 'yo pagé' instead of 'yo pagué'."
Correction: If you don't add the 'u', the sound changes to a soft 'j' sound! Remember 'pagué' to keep the correct hard 'g' sound.
⭐ Usage Tips
Command Form
The 'tú' command form ('paga') is exactly the same as the 'él/ella/usted' present tense form. Watch the context to know if it's a statement or a direct order.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: paga
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'paga' as a noun (meaning pay/salary)?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'paga' the same as 'pago'?
They are related but different. 'Paga' (feminine noun) usually refers to the wages, salary, or allowance itself (the money you receive). 'Pago' (masculine noun) refers to the action of paying or the payment transaction itself (the act of paying a bill). You receive your *paga*, but you make a *pago*.