Spanish

Paying the Bill

Learn how to ask for the bill, pay by card and handle simple payment questions.

4 min

The key phrase

“La cuenta, por favorPronunciation: lah KWEN-tah por fah-BOR” means “The bill, please.”

This is the standard phrase to ask for the bill in a restaurant or café.

Paying phrases

01La cuenta, por favor.The bill, please.02¿Cuánto es?Pronunciation: KWAN-toh esHow much is it?03¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?Pronunciation: kon tar-HEH-tahCan I pay by card?04Pago en efectivoPronunciation: en eh-fehk-TEE-boh.I’ll pay in cash.

Tarjeta and efectivo are the two payment words to know.

01

Card

Con tarjeta, por favor.By card, please.

02

Cash

En efectivo.In cash.

If you are with other people

01¿Podemos pagar por separado?Pronunciation: por seh-pah-RAH-dohCan we pay separately?02Todo junto.All together.03Yo pago.I’ll pay.04Pagamos a medias.We’ll split it equally.

Useful question

“¿Aceptáis tarjeta?” asks whether the place accepts cards.

In Spain, aceptáis is the vosotros form. If you forget it, ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? works just as well.

At the card terminal

01Aquí.Here.02Con tarjeta.By card.03¿Con contacto?Contactless?04Sí, gracias.Yes, thanks.

Remember this

La cuenta, por favor. Con tarjeta.

Two short phrases can finish most café and restaurant payments.

Lesson complete

Reviewed 2026-09-07

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