invito yo
/imbito ʝo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "my treat" is expressed as invito yo.
The phrase invito yo is used to announce that you will pay the bill for someone else. It is typically said at the moment the bill arrives or when a group is deciding who will pay for a meal or a round of drinks.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "I invite" with the pronoun yo (I) added for emphasis.
Which one should you use?
While you can say yo invito to mean "I'll pay" or "it's on me", placing the pronoun at the end as invito yo is a common way to emphasize that you, specifically, are the one paying.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase invito yo, the pronoun yo is placed at the end of the phrase to provide emphasis to the subject.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, it is common to engage in a playful tug-of-war with the bill or the check to decide who gets to say invito yo. This social ritual is often more important than the actual amount of money being spent.
- The word invitar is used both for the act of asking someone to an event and the act of paying for them, whereas English usually uses two different verbs: 'invite' and 'treat'.
- In certain Latin American countries, saying invito yo can be a way to settle a friendly debt or a wager that was made earlier in the evening.
Examples in context
- Hoy es mi cumpleaños, así que yo pago por todos.Today is my birthday, so I'll pay for everyone.
- No te preocupes, este almuerzo corre por mi cuenta.Don't worry, this lunch is on me.
- Señor López, yo invito a todos los asistentes al evento.Mr. Lopez, I invite all the attendees to the event.
- Señora González, hoy corro con los gastos de la reunión.Mrs. Gonzalez, today I'll cover the expenses of the meeting.
- Chicos, yo invito la ronda de tragos.Guys, I'll pay for the round of drinks.
- No te preocupes, invito yo.Don't worry, my treat.
- Si quieres el postre, invito yo.If you want dessert, it's my treat.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are finishing their dinner at a restaurant.
- JavierLa cena estuvo deliciosa, ¿dividimos la cuenta?Dinner was delicious, shall we split the bill?
- SofíaNo es necesario, hoy invito yo.It's not necessary, it's my treat today.
- JavierMuchas gracias, Sofía. Eres muy generosa.Thank you very much, Sofía. You are very generous.
- SofíaDe nada, Javier. ¡Me dio gusto verte!You're welcome, Javier. It was great to see you!
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
