pagar

Pagar is a term with distinct meanings in different languages. In Spanish and Portuguese, pagar is a verb meaning to pay or to settle a debt; a related noun pago can denote a payment. It is used in everyday phrases such as pagar la cuenta or pagar una factura.

In Indonesian and Malay, pagar is a common noun meaning a fence or gate, the barrier surrounding a property. This use is unrelated to the Spanish/Portuguese verb and reflects different linguistic roots.

Because the meanings arise from different languages, pagar can be considered a false friend across languages: the same spelling does not carry the same sense. Outside these languages, pagar may appear as a surname or in place names, but it is not a standard term in English or other major languages. Context is essential for determining which meaning applies.