Paying is where Spanish and social life collide. You need la cuenta, propina, te transfiero, cooperamos, vaquita, yo invito.
The language is not just math. It is tone.
The paying phrase map
| Need | Say this |
|---|---|
| Bill | La cuenta, por favor |
| Tip | Propina |
| Card | ¿Aceptan tarjeta? |
| Split | ¿Lo dividimos? |
| Contribute | ¿Cooperamos? |
| Transfer | Te transfiero |
| I treat | Yo invito |
Cuenta is bill/account depending on context,1 and propina is tip.2 Profeco reminds restaurants that prices should be clearly displayed and that the tip is voluntary, which is useful cultural context when learners are reading a check under pressure.3
Splitting without making it weird
Use:
-
¿Lo dividimos?Should we split it?
-
Te transfiero mi parte.I'll transfer you my part.
Cooperar means to cooperate or contribute,4 and transferir is the verb behind transferring money.5
Treating someone
Invitar can mean to invite or treat someone.6
| Feeling | Phrase |
|---|---|
| I treat | Yo invito |
| It’s on me | Va por mi cuenta |
| Next one | La próxima tú |
| Thanks | Gracias, yo invito la próxima |
Safe table script
-
¿Pedimos la cuenta? Yo pago con tarjeta y me transfieren.Should we ask for the bill? I will pay by card and you can transfer me.
Simple. Adult. Dinner survives.
Sources
-
Diccionario de la lengua española, cuenta — Real Academia Española ↩
-
Diccionario de la lengua española, propina — Real Academia Española ↩
-
Profeco, precios en restaurantes y propina voluntaria — Gobierno de México ↩
-
Diccionario de la lengua española, cooperar — Real Academia Española ↩
-
Diccionario de la lengua española, transferir — Real Academia Española ↩
-
Diccionario de la lengua española, invitar — Real Academia Española ↩
Test yourself
tap an answer.
You want the bill. What do you say?
Te transfiero means...
Yo invito means...
