propina
/pɾoˈpina/
The Spanish phrase for 'restaurant tip' is propina.
The term refers to an extra amount of money given to a server to thank them for their service. To express the specific action of leaving a tip, you should use the phrase dejar propina, combining the verb dejar (to leave) with propina.
Which one should you use?
While propina is the standard term, you may encounter propinas when referring to multiple tips. For a more formal context, you can use gratificación and for a more informal tone, you can use propinita.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun propina is feminine and is used with the feminine article la, as in la propina. The plural form of the word is propinas.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɾoˈpina/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, if you ask for a propina in a non-restaurant setting, you might be asking for a small bribe or a 'kickback' to get a job done quickly.
- The word propina originally had nothing to do with money, but instead referred to a drink offered to someone as a gesture of friendship or a toast.
- While in the United States a tip is often a mandatory expectation, in many Spanish-speaking countries, leaving a propina is often seen as a voluntary gesture of appreciation rather than a strict requirement.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, ¿podría incluir la propina en la cuenta, por favor?Excuse me, could you please add the tip to the bill?
- ¿La propina está incluida?¿Is the tip included?
- La propina ya está incluida en la cuenta.The tip is already included in the bill.
- ¿Quieres dejar propina para el camarero?Do you want to leave a tip for the waiter?
- Dejamos una propina generosa porque el servicio fue excelente.We left a generous tip because the service was excellent.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are paying the bill at a cafe.
- JavierSofía, ¿cuánto dejamos de propina?Sofía, how much tip should we leave?
- SofíaDejemos diez euros, me parece bien.Let's leave ten euros, that seems fine to me.
- JavierEstá bien, yo pago la cuenta.That's fine, I will pay the bill.
- SofíaGracias, Javier, eres muy amable.Thank you, Javier, you are very kind.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry propina, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries propina, CC BY-SA 4.0.
