The check, please
A more complete and polite sentence: 'Can you bring me the check, please?'. Use this to sound slightly more formal.
Use this when you are with a group of people. It means 'Can you bring us the check, please?'.
A very direct way to ask 'How much is it?'. Best for casual situations like a food stand, a taxi, or a small café.
A very polite and patient way to ask, meaning 'When you can, the check.' It shows you are not in a hurry.
Waiter, the check, please.
Excuse me, can you bring us the check when you have a moment?
Everything was delicious. How much is it?
Miss, we are finished. Can you bring me the check, please?
'La cuenta' is the standard and universally understood term for a restaurant bill across all of Latin America.
'La cuenta, por favor' is also the standard phrase in Spain. There is no significant difference for this common expression.
In addition to 'la cuenta', you might hear the humorous slang 'la dolorosa' (the painful one), but as a learner, it's best to stick with 'la cuenta'.
While 'la cuenta' is perfectly normal, 'la adición' is also sometimes used, particularly in more traditional or formal restaurants. '¿Me trae la adición, por favor?'
Saying 'el cheque, por favor'. — This is a very common mistake. 'El cheque' in Spanish refers to a bank check you write to pay for something, not the restaurant bill. The correct word is 'la cuenta'.
Only saying 'pagar'. — Saying 'quiero pagar' (I want to pay) is grammatically correct, but it's not how you ask for the bill to be brought to your table. You ask for 'la cuenta' first, and then you pay ('pagar').
Forgetting 'por favor'. — While 'La cuenta' is direct and acceptable, omitting 'por favor' (please) can sound abrupt or impolite. Always add it to be courteous.
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