What does it mean word for word?
Literally, ¿nos trae la cuenta? translates to 'Will you bring us the account?'
Which one should you use?
While ¿nos trae la cuenta? is a standard way to ask, you can also use the shorter, very common phrase La cuenta, por favor to mean 'The check, please'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ¿nos trae la cuenta? is polite. You can use even more formal versions such as ¿Podríamos pedir la cuenta? (Could we ask for the bill?) or ¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor? (Could you bring us the check, please?). In informal settings, you might say Oye, ¿nos cobras? (Hey, can you charge us?), ¿Nos puedes traer la cuenta, por favor? (Could you bring us the check, please?) or Por favor, ¿nos haces la cuenta? (Please, can you make the check for us?).
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase ¿nos trae la cuenta?, the word nos is an indirect object pronoun meaning 'to us' or 'for us'.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is considered rude for a server to bring la cuenta before you ask for it, as it implies the restaurant is rushing you out.
- In Spain, it is common to make a writing motion in the air with your index finger while saying la cuenta to signal the server from a distance.
- While la cuenta refers to the bill, the root verb contar also means 'to tell a story', reflecting the historical link between counting numbers and recounting events.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿nos trae la cuenta?Excuse me, can you bring us the bill?
- Cuando pueda, ¿nos trae la cuenta?When you can, can you bring us the bill?
Example conversation
María and Daniel are finishing their dinner at a restaurant.
- MaríaTodo estuvo delicioso, Daniel.Everything was delicious, Daniel.
- DanielSí, me encantó la comida.Yes, I loved the food.
- MaríaCamarero, ¿nos trae la cuenta?Waiter, can we have the check?
- DanielYo pagaré la cena hoy.I will pay for dinner today.
