dividir la cuenta
/dibidiɾ la kwenta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "split the bill" can be translated into Spanish as dividir la cuenta.
You use dividir la cuenta when you want to mathematically divide the total amount among several people, often used in more formal or precise contexts. If you are at a restaurant and want to request separate checks, you can use the term cuentas separadas.
Which one should you use?
There are different ways to approach splitting a bill depending on the method. dividir la cuenta implies splitting one total amount. In contrast, pagar por separado is used when each person pays for their own specific items or wants their own individual check. For a common colloquial way to express splitting a bill or cost equally between people, you can say pagar a medias.
Did you know?
- While dividir la cuenta is grammatically correct, in many Spanish-speaking countries, people are more likely to say ir a medias or hacer una vaquita to suggest splitting a cost.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, insisting on cuentas separadas can be seen as overly formal or even cold. It is more common for one person to pay the whole amount and have others pay them back later.
- The word cuenta is derived from the Latin computāre, which is also the root of the English word 'compute'.
Examples in context
- Podríamos repartir la cuenta equitativamente?Could we split the bill equally?
- Sería conveniente dividir la cuenta entre todos.It would be convenient to split the bill among everyone.
- ¿Nos hacemos mitades?Shall we go halves?
- Cada uno paga lo suyo.Each one pays their own share.
- Hagamos una vaquita para pagar la cuenta.Let's chip in to pay the bill
- ¿Podemos dividir la cuenta?Can we split the bill?
- Podemos dividir la cuenta entre todos.We can split the bill among everyone.
- Prefiero dividir la cuenta si es posible.I prefer to split the bill if possible.
- Es más fácil dividir la cuenta.It is easier to split the bill.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are finishing a meal at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Quieres dividir la cuenta hoy, Lucía?Do you want to split the bill today, Lucía?
- LucíaSí, me parece bien.Yes, that sounds good to me.
- AlejandroYo pediré el total al camarero.I will ask the waiter for the total.
- LucíaPerfecto, yo pagaré mi parte.Perfect, I will pay my part.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuenta, dividir, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
