pedir la cuenta
/pediɾ la kwenta/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'get the bill' is translated into Spanish as pedir la cuenta.
In many South American countries, including Argentina and Uruguay, people use the term la cuenta for the bill.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to ask for the bill'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb pedir is an irregular 'e to i' stem-changing verb in many present tense forms (e.g., yo pido).
When do people say it?
A common way to use this phrase in a restaurant is by saying ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
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.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, you can signal you want la cuenta by making a writing motion in the air with your hand.
- The word cuenta comes from the verb contar, which means both 'to count' and 'to tell a story'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?Could you bring me the bill, please?
- ¿Me puedes traer la cuenta, por favor?Can you bring me the bill, please?
- la cuenta, por favorThe bill, please
- Voy a pedir la cuenta, por favor.I am going to get the bill, please.
- ¿Podemos pedir la cuenta ahora?Can we get the bill now?
- Ella fue a pedir la cuenta al camarero.She went to get the bill from the waiter.
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are finishing lunch at a small cafe.
- DanielLa comida estuvo muy buena, Sofía.The food was very good, Sofía.
- SofíaSí, ¿quieres pedir la cuenta ya?Yes, do you want to get the bill now?
- DanielSí, voy a pedir la cuenta.Yes, I am going to get the bill.
- SofíaPerfecto, yo busco las llaves.Perfect, I'll look for the keys.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
