pagar la cuenta
/paɡaɾ la kwenta/from spelling rules
To pay the bill in Spanish is pagar la cuenta.
The phrase pagar la cuenta is used when you give money for a service or a meal provided at a business. In a restaurant setting, la cuenta refers specifically to the check or the bill for your meal. If you want to ask for the bill in a restaurant, the most natural and common way to do so is to simply say la cuenta, por favor.
Which one should you use?
Use pagar la cuenta specifically for a bill at a restaurant or for a service. This is different from pagar la factura, which is used for utility bills such as electricity or water.
Did you know?
- The verb pagar is an unexpected relative of the word 'peace'. It stems from the Latin pācāre, which means 'to pacify' or 'to make peace'.
- When asking for la cuenta in a busy restaurant, it is common to make a writing gesture in the air with your hand to signal the waiter.
- While pagar la cuenta is for restaurants, using cuenta in other contexts can refer to a 'bead' on a necklace, as beads are counted strings of objects.
Examples in context
- Tengo que pagar la cuenta.I have to pay the bill.This sentence shows how to express the necessity of paying the bill using pagar la cuenta.Tatoeba #1745959 by marcelostockle, translation #1744911 by Amastan
- ¿Quién va a pagar la cuenta?Who'll pay the bill?This sentence is useful for asking who is responsible for paying the bill using pagar la cuenta.Tatoeba #3777338 by Shishir, translation #2315182 by CK
- A Tom se le olvidó pagar la cuenta.Tom forgot to pay the bill.This sentence demonstrates how to say someone forgot to pay the bill using pagar la cuenta.Tatoeba #1069668 by Shishir, translation #1025737 by CK
- Señor, por favor puede hacer el pago.Sir, please make the payment.
- Chicos, cuánto me toca pagar a mí?Guys, how much do I owe?
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are finishing their dinner at a restaurant.
- DanielYa terminamos, voy a pagar la cuenta.We are finished, I am going to pay the bill.
- ElenaNo, Daniel, deja que yo pague la cuenta hoy.No, Daniel, let me pay the bill today.
- DanielEstá bien, gracias Elena.All right, thank you Elena.
- ElenaDe nada, fue un placer.You're welcome, it was a pleasure.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuenta, la, pagar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
