¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?
In Spanish, 'please, can I have the bill?' is expressed as ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?
This phrase is the standard, polite way to request the check in a restaurant or cafe. When referring to the bill itself, use la cuenta, as it is more universally understood in Spanish-speaking regions than the word factura.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor? literally translates to 'Will you bring me the bill, please?'
Which one should you use?
Using traes instead of trae changes the register from formal to informal. For example, ¿me traes la cuenta? is an informal way to ask, whereas ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor? is the standard polite form.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you can signal a server to bring la cuenta by mimicking the act of writing on your palm with your finger in the air.
- The word cuenta shares a linguistic root with the English word 'computer', coming from the Latin computāre.
- While cuenta refers to the bill, the verb it comes from, contar, is used both for mathematical counting and for telling a story.
Examples in context
- Camarero, ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?Waiter, can you bring me the bill, please?
- Perdone, ¿me trae la cuenta, por favor?Excuse me, can you bring me the bill, please?
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are finishing their lunch at a restaurant.
- AlejandroTodo estaba muy rico. ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?Everything was delicious. Can I have the bill, please?
- ElenaSí, claro. Se la traigo enseguida.Yes, of course. I will bring it to you right away.
- AlejandroMuchas gracias, Elena.Thank you very much, Elena.
- ElenaDe nada, Alejandro. Un momento.You're welcome, Alejandro. One moment.
