Asking for the check after a meal is a common practice in many cultures, and it’s always useful to know how to request it in different languages. In Spanish, there are several ways to ask for the check politely, depending on the formality of the situation. In this guide, we’ll provide you with various expressions, including both formal and informal ways to ask for the check in Spanish.
Table of Contents
Formal ways to ask for the check
When you’re dining in a formal setting or addressing someone you’re not familiar with, it’s important to use polite and respectful language. Here are some formal expressions to use when asking for the check:
- ¿Podría traer la cuenta, por favor? – Could you bring the check, please?
- Disculpe, ¿me puede traer la cuenta? – Excuse me, can you bring me the check?
- Perdone, ¿puede traerme la cuenta, por favor? – Excuse me, could you bring me the check, please?
Informal ways to ask for the check
If you’re dining in a casual setting or with friends, you can use more relaxed language to ask for the check. Here are some informal expressions to use:
- ¿Me puedes traer la cuenta, por favor? – Can you bring me the check, please?
- Oye, ¿me traes la cuenta? – Hey, can you bring me the check?
- Disculpa, ¿me traes la cuenta, por favor? – Sorry, can you bring me the check, please?
Additional Tips and Examples
Here are some additional tips and examples to help you when asking for the check in Spanish:
1. Non-verbal cues
In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is common for the server to bring the check without being asked. If you’re ready to pay, you can simply make eye contact with the server or place your hand on the table near your empty plate to indicate that you’re finished.
2. Paying together or separately
If you’re dining with others and want to request separate checks, you can use the following expressions:
- ¿Podría traer la cuenta por separado, por favor? – Could you bring separate checks, please?
- Quisiera pagar por separado, ¿puede traer cuentas individuales? – I’d like to pay separately, can you bring individual checks?
3. Add “cuánto es” for convenience
To make it clear that you want to pay and are requesting the total amount, you can add “cuánto es” (how much is it) to any of the previous phrases. For example:
- Disculpe, ¿me puede traer la cuenta, por favor? ¿Y cuánto es? – Excuse me, can you bring me the check, please? And how much is it?
4. Regional variations
While the expressions mentioned above are understood throughout the Spanish-speaking world, there may be some regional variations. Here are a couple of examples:
*In Mexico:* ¿Me puedes dar la cuenta, por favor? – Can you give me the check, please?
*In Argentina:* ¿Me traés la cuenta, por favor? – Can you bring me the check, please?
Conclusion
Now that you know how to ask for the check in Spanish, you can confidently enjoy dining out in Spanish-speaking countries or communicate with Spanish-speaking waitstaff. Remember to match your language to the formality of the situation and feel free to adjust the expressions based on your preference or regional variations. Buena suerte (good luck) and buen provecho (enjoy your meal)!
