Do you have change?
The informal version using 'tú'. Use with friends, peers, or younger people.
A slightly more indirect and polite way to ask, using the future tense. It translates to 'Might you have change?'.
Use this when you have a large bill and need smaller ones. 'Can you change a bill for me?'.
A very common alternative in countries like Colombia and Peru, meaning 'Do you have small bills/coins?'.
Excuse me, do you have change for a twenty-dollar bill?
I need coins for the bus. Friend, do you have change?
I'm sorry, I only have a large bill. Might you have change?
At the store: 'Good morning, can you change this one-hundred bill for me, please?'
'¿Tiene cambio?' is the most universal and widely understood phrase.
'Cambio' is standard. Informally, you might hear people ask for 'feria'. For example, '¿No trae feria para el estacionamiento?' (Don't you have change for the parking?).
'Sencillo' is extremely common, often more so than 'cambio'. You'll hear '¿Tiene sencillo?' constantly in stores and taxis.
'Suelto' is the preferred term. The informal question would be '¿Tenés suelto?', using the 'vos' conjugation.
'Suelto' is also very common here, used interchangeably with 'cambio'.
'Cambio' is standard. The informal plural form, not used in Latin America, is '¿Tenéis cambio?'.
Using the verb 'cambiar' as a noun. For example: *'¿Tiene un cambiar?'* — This is incorrect. 'Cambio' is the noun for 'change' (money). 'Cambiar' is the verb 'to change/exchange'. The correct noun is 'cambio'.
Confusing 'cambio' with 'vuelto' or 'resto'. For example, after paying with a $20 for a $15 item: *'¿Dónde está mi cambio?'* — While understandable, 'cambio' is what you ask for *before* paying. The change you receive *back* is called 'el vuelto' or 'el resto'. So the correct question is '¿Dónde está mi vuelto?'.
Using 'pequeño' (small) instead of 'cambio'. For example: *'¿Tiene dinero pequeño?'* — This is a direct translation from English 'small money' and sounds unnatural. The correct term for small bills and coins is 'cambio', 'sencillo', or 'suelto'.
Found this useful? Save it for later.