caja
/ˈkaxa/
The English phrase 'checkout' is translated into Spanish as caja.
In the context of a physical store, caja refers to the checkout counter or the point of sale. For the process of confirming and paying for an online purchase, a more descriptive term than caja is proceso de pago.
Meaning: process of confirming and paying for an online purchase (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word caja literally means 'box', referring to the physical cash box or register where money is kept.
Which one should you use?
While caja refers to the physical location or the checkout process, pago refers specifically to the act of making the payment itself.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaxa/
Did you know?
- While caja means 'checkout' or 'box', it is also used in Spanish to describe a 'cashier' as a person when referring to the staff member working there.
- The word caja shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'cash', both tracing back to the idea of a container for valuables.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, it is customary to ask ¿Desea bolsa? at the caja, as plastic bags are often sold separately rather than provided for free.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, la cuenta, por favor.Good morning, the bill, please.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are shopping for clothes online.
- AlejandroElena, ¿ya terminaste de elegir la ropa?Elena, are you finished choosing the clothes?
- ElenaSí, ahora voy a la caja.Yes, now I am going to the checkout.
- AlejandroNo olvides usar el código de descuento.Don't forget to use the discount code.
- ElenaTienes razón, lo pongo en la caja.You're right, I'll put it in the checkout.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry caja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries caja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
