This is the 3104th most frequent Spanish word.
pay
"Pay" in Spanish refers to "pie" (a type of pastry).
Here, 'paga' (to pay) refers to fulfilling a financial obligation or settling a bill.
Ella siempre paga sus deudas puntualmente.
She always pays her debts on time.
In 'pagar atención (pay attention)', 'pagar' is used figuratively to mean 'focus' or 'direct cognitive effort towards'.
Los niños necesitan aprender a prestar atención y pagar atención en clase.
The children need to learn to pay attention and pay attention in class.
In 'pagar respeto (pay respect)', 'pagar' is applied metaphorically indicating showing acknowledgment or appreciation.