Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cuentas pendientes de pago | /kwentas pendjentes de paɡo/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
| cuentas a pagar | /kwentas a paɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | feminine, plural |
This term refers to the total monetary amount owed by a customer to suppliers of its goods and services. In a business setting, the department responsible for managing these debts is known as the departamento de cuentas por pagar.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cuentas a pagar is a literal construction meaning accounts to pay, while cuentas pendientes de pago literally translates to accounts pending payment.
Which one should you use?
While cuentas a pagar refers to money owed by the company (accounts payable), cuentas por cobrar refers to money owed to the company (accounts receivable).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the most common way to say accounts payable is cuentas a pagar. In Latin American countries, Cuentas por Pagar is the standard translation.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both forms provided are feminine and plural. To refer to a single account payable, the plural cuentas is changed to the singular cuenta, such as in cuenta a pagar.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Antes de cerrar el balance financiero, asegúrate de revisar detenidamente las Cuentas por Pagar.Before finalizing the financial statement, make sure to thoroughly review the Accounts Payable.
- Debemos revisar las cuentas pendientes de pago de la empresa.We must review the company's accounts payable.
- El departamento gestiona todas las cuentas pendientes de pago.The department manages all the accounts payable.
- Hay muchas cuentas pendientes de pago este mes.There are many accounts payable this month.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are reviewing the monthly financial report in an office.
- LucíaDaniel, ¿has verificado las cuentas pendientes de pago?Daniel, have you verified the accounts payable?
- DanielSí, Lucía, ya terminé con ese informe.Yes, Lucía, I already finished that report.
- LucíaPerfecto, el total parece estar correcto.Perfect, the total seems to be correct.
- DanielMuy bien, procederé con los pagos ahora.Very well, I will proceed with the payments now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “accounts payable” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, de, pagar, pago, CC BY-SA 4.0.
