Paying & Splitting the Bill
Use these essential phrases when you are ready to finish your meal, check the total, and pay at a restaurant or cafe.
Key Phrases
La cuenta, por favor.
neutralThe bill, please.
The standard and most common way to ask for the bill.
¿Me cobra, por favor?
politeCan I pay, please?
A polite alternative, very common in Latin America.
¿Cuánto es en total?
neutralHow much is it in total?
Use this if you did not receive a printed receipt.
¿Cuánto te debo?
casualHow much do I owe you?
Very natural between friends or in informal cafes.
Pagamos por separado.
neutralWe are paying separately.
Tell the staff this before they print the receipt.
A medias, por favor.
casualHalf and half, please.
Used when two people want to split the bill equally.
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
neutralDo you take cards?
Ask this if you do not see a card machine on the counter.
Con tarjeta, por favor.
casualBy card, please.
A quick and natural reply when they ask how you want to pay.
Pago en efectivo.
neutralI am paying in cash.
Está bien así, gracias.
neutralKeep the change, thanks.
Say this when handing over cash to tell them to keep the rest.