la dolorosa
Spain, Mexico, humorous
The playful slang for the restaurant bill is la dolorosa, literally "the painful one". The standard request is la cuenta, and Argentina and Uruguay say la adición.
Meaning: restaurant check (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| la dolorosa | Spain, Mexico, humorous |
| La cuenta | common |
| La adición | Argentina, Uruguay |
Say La dolorosa, por favor with a smile when you want to joke about the price.
Which one should you use?
La cuenta is the normal way to ask the waiter for the bill. La dolorosa only works as a joke between friends.
Is it said differently in some regions?
La adición is used in Argentina and Uruguay and sounds odd in Mexico or Spain.
Did you know?
- La dolorosa literally means "the sorrowful one".
Examples in context
- ¡Camarero, la dolorosa, por favor!Waiter, the bill, please!
- ¿Nos trae la cuenta, por favor?Could you bring us the check, please?
- Pedimos la adición y nos fuimos.We asked for the check and left.
Example conversation
Four friends finish dinner in Madrid.
- SergioCamarero, la dolorosa, por favor.Waiter, the bill please.
- CamareroEnseguida se la traigo.I will bring it right away.
- InesEsta ronda la pago yo.This round is on me.
