¿nos trae la cuenta?
In Spanish, "can we get the bill" is expressed as ¿nos trae la cuenta?
This phrase is a polite request used in a restaurant setting to ask a server for the total amount to be paid.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'Will you bring us the bill?', where nos is an indirect object pronoun meaning 'to us' or 'us'.
Which one should you use?
you can use ¿Me trae la cuenta? if you are dining alone. For a more direct and shorter approach, you can simply say La cuenta, por favor.
How does it change in a sentence?
When dining alone, you should change the indirect object pronoun nos (us) to me (me) to form the phrase ¿Me trae la cuenta?
Did you know?
- In some cultures, it is considered rude for a waiter to bring la cuenta before the guests have explicitly asked for it, as it suggests they are being rushed out.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, asking for la cuenta is often accompanied by a hand gesture that looks like writing in the air with an invisible pen.
- While la cuenta means 'the bill', the root word contar can also mean 'to tell a story' or 'to recount' an event.
Examples in context
- Señor, ¿nos trae la cuenta?Sir, can you bring us the bill?
- Disculpe, ¿nos trae la cuenta?Excuse me, can you bring us the bill?
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are finishing their dinner at a restaurant.
- SofíaYa estoy llena. ¿Nos trae la cuenta?I'm full already. Can we get the bill?
- DanielSí, yo también. Llamemos al camarero.Yes, me too. Let's call the waiter.
- SofíaHola, ¿nos trae la cuenta, por favor?Hello, can we get the bill, please?
- DanielClaro, se la traigo en un momento.Of course, I'll bring it to you in a moment.
