The bill please
A slightly more formal and complete sentence meaning 'Can you bring us the bill, please?'. Use this to be extra polite.
A more indirect and patient way to ask, meaning 'When you can, the bill.' It's polite and shows you're not in a rush.
This means 'We're ready for the bill.' It's a clear and polite way to signal you've finished your meal.
Excuse me, the bill, please.
Everything was delicious. Can you bring us the bill, please?
We're not in a hurry. When you can, the bill.
Miss, we're finished now. We are ready for the bill.
'La cuenta, por favor' is universally understood and is the most common phrase across all Spanish-speaking countries.
In Spain, while 'la cuenta' is perfectly fine, it's also very common to hear '¿Me cobras, por favor?' (Can you charge me, please?) or even the more direct '¡Cobra, por favor!' when getting the waiter's attention.
'La cuenta, por favor' is the standard and most frequently used phrase.
'La cuenta, por favor' is the standard. No significant local variations for this specific phrase.
The standard is 'La cuenta, por favor.' You may also hear '¿Me traés la cuenta?' which uses the 'vos' conjugation common in Argentina.
Saying 'el billete, por favor.' — This is a common error. 'El billete' means a bill as in a banknote (e.g., a 20-dollar bill), not a restaurant check. The correct word is always 'la cuenta'.
Using 'la factura, por favor.' — 'Factura' means 'invoice' and is used for official, itemized bills for tax purposes or for services like electricity. While technically a bill, it sounds overly formal and out of place in a restaurant. Stick with 'la cuenta'.
Forgetting 'por favor'. — Simply saying 'La cuenta' can sound abrupt or demanding, especially depending on your tone. Adding 'por favor' (please) is crucial for politeness in Spanish culture.
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