Possiamo pagare?
The English phrase "can we pay?" is translated into Italian as Possiamo pagare?
Possiamo pagare? is a request used to ask if it is possible to settle a bill or pay for something. While it is a grammatically correct way to ask to pay, it is much more common and natural in restaurants to simply say Il conto, per favore to request the bill.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person plural present indicative of potere (to be able to/can) and the infinitive pagare (to pay).
Did you know?
- The verb pagare shares a common ancestor with the English word 'pacify'. Both words stem from the Latin pax, meaning 'peace'.
- In many Italian regions, it is customary to divide the bill exactly by the number of people, a practice known as fare alla romana or 'doing it Roman style'.
- In Italy, it is often considered rude to ask Possiamo pagare? too early in a meal. Restaurants generally will not bring the bill until you explicitly ask for it, as rushing a guest is seen as impolite.
Example conversation
Giulia and Alessandro are at a restaurant.
- GiuliaIl conto, per favore. Possiamo pagare?The bill, please. Can we pay?
- AlessandroCerto, volete pagare insieme?Sure, do you want to pay together?
- GiuliaSì, paghiamo tutto io e Alessandro.Yes, Alessandro and I will pay for everything.
- AlessandroPerfetto, arrivo subito.Perfect, I'll be right there.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pagare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
