Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pagar | /paˈɡaɾ/ | |
| garpar | /ɡaɾˈpaɾ/ | |
| costear | /kosteˈaɾ/ | |
| recudir | /rekuˈdiɾ/ | |
| abonar | /aboˈnaɾ/ | |
| cashquear | /kaskeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) | Guatemala |
The verb pagar is the most common and general way to say 'pay' in Spanish, used for giving money in exchange for goods or services. When you want to refer to the money received specifically for work, such as a salary or a specific payment, you use the noun paga.
Which one should you use?
While pagar is the standard term, abonar is used in formal or banking contexts to mean paying an amount toward a debt or a balance. If your focus is specifically on the act of covering expenses or funding a project rather than the simple act of handing over money, use costear.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Abonar is a more formal alternative to pagar and can be used in formal letters or legal matters, such as in the phrase abonar el importe. In such contexts, garpar should be avoided as it is an informal slang term.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Guatemala, the regionalism cashquear is used to mean 'to pay'. In some Latin American countries, the phrase for paying the bill, pagar la cuenta, may be replaced by pagar la factura. In Spain, abonar may be favored over pagar in formal contexts.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun paga refers to money received for work, such as a salary.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈɡaɾ/
Did you know?
- The slang word garpar is an example of vesre, a playful way of speaking where syllables are reversed. It is created by flipping the sounds of the standard verb pagar.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the act of pagar la cuenta is often a point of social competition, where diners may vigorously argue or race to the counter to avoid letting others pay.
- The Spanish verb pagar actually traces its roots back to the Latin word pācāre, which means 'to pacify'.
Examples in context
- No, yo lo pagaré.No, I'll pay.This sentence is useful for saying 'I will pay'.Tatoeba #1828839 by marcelostockle, translation #9483363 by DJ_Saidez
- ¿Quién va a pagar?Who will pay?This sentence is useful for asking who will pay.Tatoeba #1771949 by hayastan, translation #1357342 by sacredceltic
- Él pagará por todo.He will pay for everything.This sentence is useful for saying he will pay for everything.Tatoeba #1167151 by marcelostockle, translation #539652 by maolek
- Por favor, ¿dónde puedo pagar la cuenta?Please, where can I pay the bill?
- Le ruego abone el importe antes del día 15.I kindly request you to pay the amount before the 15th.
- Tranquila, yo pago la cuenta hoy.Don't worry, I'll pay the bill today.
- Mañana te abono el dinero que te debo.Tomorrow, I'll pay you the money I owe you.
- Pagar la cuenta en efectivoPay the bill in cash
- Pagar la tarjeta de créditoPay the credit card
- Pagar la hipotecaPay the mortgage
- Pagar en efectivoPay in cash
- Pagar con tarjetaPay with a card
- Hacer una transferenciaMake a bank transfer
- Pagar por chequePay by check
- 344 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- MateoTengo que pagar la cuenta ahora.I have to pay the bill now.
- ElenaNo te preocupes, yo puedo pagar hoy.Don't worry, I can pay today.
- MateoMuchas gracias, Elena.Thank you very much, Elena.
- ElenaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pay” translations and entries pagar, garpar, costear, recudir, abonar, cashquear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries garpar, pagar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
