pagare il conto
/paˈɡa.re il ˈkon.to/word by word
The Italian phrase for "pay the bill" is pagare il conto.
This phrase is used specifically to describe giving money for food and drinks after eating at a restaurant. When requesting the bill at a restaurant, it is common and polite to simply say Il conto, per favore rather than using a full verb phrase.
Which one should you use?
In a restaurant context, use il conto for the bill. This is distinct from la fattura, which refers to a formal commercial invoice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Rome, a person might request the bill by saying Mi fa il conto, per piacere?
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the regular -are verb pagare. In the present tense, this verb conjugates as pago (I pay), paghi (you pay) and paga (he/she pays).
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈɡa.re il ˈkon.to/. The phrase has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The word pagare shares a surprising ancestor with the English word 'peace'. It comes from the Latin pax, meaning that to pay someone is etymologically linked to the act of making peace or pacifying them.
- In Italian culture, it is often considered a gesture of generosity to insist on paying the bill for others, a practice known as offrire.
- In some contexts, the word conto can be used figuratively to mean 'reckoning' or 'settling a score' between two people.
Examples in context
- Devo pagare il conto.I have to pay the bill.This sentence shows how to express the necessity of paying the bill using pagare il conto.Tatoeba #2607751 by Guybrush88, translation #1744911 by Amastan
- Qualcuno deve pagare il conto.Someone has to pay the bill.This sentence demonstrates a statement about someone having to pay the bill using pagare il conto.Tatoeba #3241456 by Guybrush88, translation #1617924 by Spamster
- Perché dovrei pagare il conto?Why shouldn't I pay the bill?This sentence is a way to ask why one should pay the bill using pagare il conto.Tatoeba #8011014 by Guybrush88, translation #6115571 by CK
- Buonasera, possiamo avere il conto, per favore?Good evening, may we have the bill, please?
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Matteo and Martina are finishing a meal at a cafe.
- MatteoPosso pagare il conto io, Martina?Can I pay the bill, Martina?
- MartinaNo, Matteo, dividiamo alla romana.No, Matteo, let's split it evenly.
- MatteoVa bene, allora paghiamo il conto separatamente.Alright, then let's pay the bill separately.
- MartinaSì, va benissimo.Yes, that is perfectly fine.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (pagare, il, conto) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries conto, il, pagare, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
