Paying & Splitting the Bill
Use these phrases when you have finished your meal and are ready to settle the bill, whether paying alone or splitting with friends.
Key Phrases
¿Nos cobras cuando puedas, por favor?
casualCan we pay whenever you can, please?
Very natural in Spain to use the verb 'cobrar' (to charge) in the casual 'tú' form when asking to pay.
¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?
neutralCould you bring us the bill, please?
The standard neutral way to ask for the bill anywhere.
Disculpe, ¿le importaría traernos la cuenta cuando tenga un momento?
politeExcuse me, would you mind bringing us the bill when you have a moment?
Uses the conditional 'le importaría' for extra politeness in a nice restaurant.
¿Se puede pagar con tarjeta o tiene que ser en efectivo?
neutralCan we pay by card or does it have to be in cash?
Using the impersonal 'se puede' is a very common way to ask if something is allowed.
Voy a pagar con tarjeta, ¿tienen para pagos sin contacto?
neutralI'm going to pay by card, do you have contactless payment?
'Sin contacto' is the Spanish term for contactless.
¿Nos puede cobrar por separado, por favor?
neutralCan you charge us separately, please?
The most standard way to ask the server to divide the check.
Disculpe, ¿sería posible dividir la cuenta a partes iguales?
politeExcuse me, would it be possible to split the bill equally?
A polite way to ask to split the total right down the middle.
¿Lo pagamos a medias o prefieres que cada uno pague lo suyo?
casualShall we go halves or do you prefer everyone pays for their own?
Notice the use of the subjunctive 'pague' after 'prefieres que' (you prefer that).
¿Cuánto nos toca pagar a cada uno si añadimos la propina?
casualHow much does each of us have to pay if we add the tip?
'Tocar a cada uno' is a very natural conversational way to talk about each person's share.
Esta ronda invito yo, no te preocupes por pagar.
casualThis round is on me, don't worry about paying.
The verb 'invitar' is commonly used to mean treating someone to a meal or a drink.
Deberíamos dejar algo de suelto en la mesa para el camarero.
casualWe should leave some change on the table for the waiter.
'Suelto' means 'loose change' and 'deberíamos' (conditional) makes it a soft suggestion among friends.
Disculpe, ¿sabe si el servicio ya está incluido en el total?
neutralExcuse me, do you know if the service is already included in the total?
In many Spanish-speaking countries tipping culture varies, so it's normal to ask.
Cóbrese de aquí y quédese con el cambio, gracias.
politeTake it out of this and keep the change, thanks.
Uses the polite imperative form ('usted') when handing cash to a waiter.
Creo que hay un error; nosotros no pedimos este plato.
neutralI think there's a mistake; we didn't order this dish.
A polite but direct way to point out a discrepancy using indicative 'creo que'.