How to Say "Can We Get the Check?" in Spanish

¿nos da la cuenta?

The English phrase "can we get the check?" is translated into Spanish as ¿nos da la cuenta?

This phrase is used to request the bill at the end of a meal in a restaurant. While ¿nos da la cuenta? is a standard way to ask, you can also use the verb traer (to bring) instead of dar (to give) to sound even more polite. Adding puede (can/is able to) to make the request more indirect is also a common way to achieve a polite, formal tone in restaurant service.

Which one should you use?

The phrase ¿nos da la cuenta? uses the verb dar (to give), whereas many speakers prefer using traer (to bring) to make the request sound more polite. For a much shorter and very common alternative, you can simply say La cuenta, por favor.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

¿nos da la cuenta? is a standard request. For more formal situations, you can use ¿Podría traernos la cuenta, por favor?, Disculpe, ¿nos podría traer la cuenta? or Me gustaría pagar, ¿podría traerme la cuenta? In contrast, informal settings allow for phrases like Oye, ¿nos traes la cuenta? or Cuando puedas, nos das la cuenta.

How does it change in a sentence?

The phrase ¿nos da la cuenta? uses the third-person singular form of the verb dar (to give) to express a polite request to the waiter.

Did you know?

In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered rude for a waiter to bring la cuenta before the guests explicitly ask for it, as it implies they are being rushed out.
In some regions, it is common to signal for la cuenta by mimicking the motion of writing in the air with a finger, often without saying a word.
While it means 'bill' in a restaurant, the word cuenta is also used to mean a 'story' or 'tale' when paired with the verb contar.

Examples in context

Sí, ¿podría traernos la cuenta, por favor?
Yes, could you bring us the bill, please?
No, oye, ¿nos traes la cuenta?
No, hey, can you bring us the bill?
Estamos listos, ¿nos da la cuenta?
We are ready, can you give us the bill?

Example conversation

Daniel and Elena are finishing their lunch at a restaurant.

Daniel

Todo estuvo muy rico.
Everything was very delicious.
Elena

Sí, me encantó el postre.
Yes, I loved the dessert.
Daniel

Camarero, ¿nos da la cuenta?
Waiter, can we get the check?
Elena

Yo pago hoy, Daniel.
I will pay today, Daniel.

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How to Say “Can We Get the Check?” in Spanish