Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| conto | /ˈkon.to/ | masculine |
| bolletta | /bolˈlet.ta/ | feminine |
| fattura | /fatˈtu.ra/ | feminine |
| dovuto | /doˈvu.to/ | masculine |
| spettanza | feminine |
The term used for bill depends entirely on the context of the transaction, such as whether you are at a restaurant, paying a utility or conducting business.
Which one should you use?
Use conto when asking for the bill at a restaurant or cafe. Use bolletta specifically for utility bills, such as those for electricity, gas or water. For a formal commercial invoice, especially in business-to-business transactions, use fattura.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Bolletta is a feminine noun. Its plural is bollette. Conto is a masculine noun. Its plural is conti. Fattura is a feminine noun. Its plural is fatture.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈkon.to/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
When do people say it?
In a restaurant, a common way to ask for your bill is to say Il conto, per favore.
Did you know?
- In some Italian contexts, il conto can refer to a 'settling of scores' or a grudge, meaning the bill is finally being paid in a metaphorical sense.
- The word bolletta comes from bolla, meaning 'bubble' or 'seal'. It originally referred to the official wax seal used to validate a tax document.
- In Italy, it is common for a group of friends to ask for conti separati to pay their own way, but in many traditional trattorias, splitting the bill is still seen as slightly awkward.
Examples in context
- Io pagai il conto.I paid the bill.This sentence shows the action of paying the conto.Tatoeba #1984297 by Guybrush88, translation #680368 by Source_VOA
- Ecco il tuo conto.Here is your bill.This sentence is used to present the conto to someone.Tatoeba #2685322 by Guybrush88, translation #64716 by CK
- Mi mandi il conto.Send me the bill.This sentence is a request to have the conto sent.Tatoeba #3564037 by Guybrush88, translation #3563948 by CK
- Il conto, per favoreThe bill, please
- Buonasera, vorrei il conto, per favore.Good evening, I would like the bill, please.
- Subito, signore. Ecco il conto.Right away, sir. Here's the bill.
- Hai ricevuto la fattura per i pagamenti del mese scorso?Did you receive the invoice for last month's payments?
- Sì, ho ricevuto la fattura ieri.Yes, I received the invoice yesterday.
- Che ne dici di dividere il conto a metà?What do you think about splitting the bill in half?
- 198 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Chiara are finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- FrancescoChiara, hai visto il conto?Chiara, have you seen the bill?
- ChiaraNo, non lo vedo sul tavolo.No, I don't see it on the table.
- FrancescoChiedo al cameriere il conto.I will ask the waiter for the bill.
- ChiaraVa bene, pago io questa volta.Okay, I will pay this time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bill” translations and entries conto, bolletta, fattura, dovuto, spettanza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bolletta, conto, dovuto, fattura, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
