¿tienes cambio?
In Spanish, "do you have change" is said as ¿tienes cambio?
This phrase is used specifically to ask if someone has smaller denominations of currency to break a larger bill. It is not used to ask if someone has spare time or if they have a different opinion.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word feria can be used to refer to change. In Argentina, the word vuelto can be used to refer to the change received after paying for something.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use the form ¿tiene cambio? when speaking to a stranger, an elder or someone in a professional setting to be polite.
Did you know?
- While cambio refers to breaking a bill, the word suelto is often used in Spain to specify that someone has loose coins in their pocket.
- The word cambio is a direct relative of the English word 'change', as both stem from the Latin 'cambire', meaning to exchange.
- Depending on the country, asking ¿tienes cambio? may be perceived not as a simple question of availability, but as a request for a favor to help break a large bill.
Examples in context
- ¿Tiene cambio, por favor?Do you have change, please?
- Disculpe, ¿tiene cambio?Excuse me, do you have change?
- ¿Tienes cambio?Do you have change?
- Oye, ¿tienes cambio?Hey, do you have change?
- Oye, ¿tienes cambio para un billete de veinte?Hey, do you have change for a twenty-dollar bill?
- No tengo cambio, solo billetes grandes.I don't have change, only large bills.
- Lo siento, no tengo suficiente, ¿tienes cambio?I am sorry, I do not have enough, do you have change?
- Necesito monedas, ¿tienes cambio?I need coins, do you have change?
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are at a small street food stall.
- DanielHola, ¿tienes cambio?Hello, do you have change?
- LucíaSí, ¿cuánto necesitas, Daniel?Yes, how much do you need, Daniel?
- DanielNecesito cambio para este billete de cincuenta.I need change for this fifty-dollar bill.
- LucíaClaro, toma el cambio, Daniel.Sure, take the change, Daniel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cambio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
