a conta, por favor
/a ˈkõ.tɐ ˈpoʁ faˈvoʁ/
The English phrase "can I have the bill, please?" is translated into Portuguese as a conta, por favor.
This phrase is a polite request used to ask for the total amount of money owed after eating or drinking at a restaurant.
Which one should you use?
While a conta, por favor is a common short way to ask, you can use longer sentences depending on the level of formality. For example, Pode trazer a conta, por favor? or Desculpe, poderia trazer a conta para mim, por favor? are used in more formal contexts, whereas Podes trazer a conta, por favor? is used in informal situations.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun conta is a feminine noun, which is why it is preceded by the feminine article a in the phrase a conta.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /a ˈkõ.tɐ ˈpoʁ faˈvoʁ/. It has 5 syllables and the stress is on the second syllable.
Did you know?
- In Portugal and Brazil, it is common to signal for a conta by mimicking writing in the air with your hand if the waiter is far away.
- Because conta can mean both a bill and a story, saying estou contando could mean you are either calculating a total or telling a tale.
- In many Brazilian restaurants, servers will not bring a conta until you explicitly ask for it, as bringing it too early can be seen as rushing the guests.
Examples in context
- Garçom, a conta, por favor.Waiter, the bill, please.
- Pode trazer a conta, por favor?Can you bring the bill, please?
Example conversation
Mariana and Rodrigo are finishing lunch at a cafe.
- MarianaRodrigo, a conta, por favor.Rodrigo, the bill, please.
- RodrigoSim, eu chamo o garçom.Yes, I will call the waiter.
- MarianaObrigada, foi um almoço ótimo.Thank you, it was a great lunch.
- RodrigoCom certeza, Mariana.For sure, Mariana.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry a conta, por favor, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
