How To Say ‘I Want To Pay The Check’ In Spanish (2025)

If you are visiting Spain for a vacation or business, step out with friends and colleagues for dinner or lunch.

Then, you will need to know how to request a bill and say, ‘I Want To Pay The Check‘ In Spanish. 

Learning a new language is much more than learning the basics, you must also learn about the people, their culture, and customs too.

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One such custom is to Pay The Check during an outing to a restaurant with colleagues or friends.

There are several ways one can say “I want to pay the check,” in Spanish. 

In this guide, we shall share multiple ways that can be used to say ‘I Want To Pay The Check’ In Spanish.

When you go through this post, you will be able to confidently handle the situation in a Spanish-speaking country. 

Without any further ado, let’s get started:

Different Ways To Say I Want To Pay The Check-In Spanish

There are innumerable ways to request a bill at a restaurant or cafe, it can be done through hand gestures which is a common method or you ask for the bill after finishing a meal. 

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I Want To Pay Check in Spanish is, ‘Yo quiero pagar la cuenta’. It is a direct way of saying I Want To Pay Check on a casual dining outing.

La Cuenta 

The phrase is pronounced as ‘lah-kwen-tah’ and means The Check. It is also a direct way of asking for the check. 

La cuenta, por favor

This is a polite way of asking for the check.   

¿Podría traerme la cuenta?

This means, could you please bring me the check? This is a formal and polite way to ask for the check, usually done in upscale restaurants. 

Me gustaría pagar la cuenta.

It means, ‘I would like to pay the check.’  It showcases your desire to pay the check.  

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Dejame pagar la cuenta.

The above phrase is used while insisting on paying the check. Usually said after someone else has offered.   

¿Cuánto es? lah-kwen-tah

The phrase means  How much is it? 

“¿Podemos tener la cuenta, por favor?” 

Can we have the bill, please? It indirectly communicates that you’re ready for the bill.

¿Nos cobra?

It means, can you charge us? It is framed as a colloquial way to request the bill. Mostly used in informal settings.  

Estamos listos para pagar

It means, we are ready to pay, and it suggests that the party is over, and you are ready to settle the bill, 

¿Puede cobrarme?

When you are in a hurry, you use the above phrase, which means, Can you charge me?  

La cuenta y un gendarme

This is a tongue-in-cheek expression that implies that you are unable to pay the bill,  so fetch a cop.  

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¿Cuánto te debo?

This is a casual way of asking how much do I owe you? The phrase sounds impolite, so do try to avoid it. 

Here are some more phrases regarding paying a bill at a restaurant. 

“¿Puedo Pagar? ” – Can I pay?

¿Aceptan Tarjetas? ” – Do you accept cards?

“Quisiera Pagar en Efectivo” – Will pay in cash.

“Aqui Tiene la Propina” – Here’s the tip.

“Gracias por su Servicio” – Thank you for your service.

Additional Tips

  • It is important to communicate politely with the staff. 
  • Add La Cuenta with Por Favor as adding the two will leave your Spanish friend impressed.
  • As different regions have different versions, it is better to observe the locals and follow them.
  • Use Hand Gesture to convey your request for a bill or maintain eye contact to convey your request for bill subtly with the waiter.  
  • However, the request must be made politely and respectfully.

Practice what you have learned in real-life situations to gain confidence in speaking your target language.

One must not feel disheartened by making mistakes. Once you have become fluent, it will be a breeze to request a bill at a Spanish restaurant.

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