Italian for Beginners: Asking for the Bill and Paying by Card
Learn to say 'The bill, please' and 'Can I pay by card?' in Italian, with polite phrases for ending a meal at a café or restaurant.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you finish a meal in Italy, you usually do not receive the bill automatically. You need to ask for it, and you may also want to know whether card payment is accepted. This lesson gives you the exact phrases for that moment: asking for the bill politely, asking about payment methods, and understanding the answer. You will practise a short exchange that takes you from 'we are done' to 'paid'.
By the end, you can…
- ask for the bill politely in Italian.
- ask whether I can pay by card.
- understand and respond to simple payment questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Il conto, per favore.
The bill, please.
eel KON-toh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
The standard polite way to ask for the bill after a meal. Use it with a waiter or at the counter.
Posso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay by card?
POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tah
A direct but polite question about card payment. 'Carta' usually means a debit or credit card.
Accettate carte?
Do you accept cards?
ah-cheht-TAH-teh KAR-teh
Useful when you want to ask generally whether cards are accepted, before you order or pay.
Pago in contanti.
I'll pay in cash.
PAH-goh een kon-TAN-tee
Use this if you prefer cash or if cards are not accepted. 'Contanti' means cash.
Il conto è a posto?
Is the bill settled? / Is everything paid?
eel KON-toh eh ah POS-toh
A useful check after paying, especially if you paid at the counter and want confirmation.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Use 'Posso + infinitive?' to ask permission politely. 'Posso pagare con la carta?' means 'Can I pay by card?'. You can swap the verb: 'Posso pagare in contanti?' (Can I pay in cash?). The preposition changes with the payment method: 'con la carta' (with the card), 'in contanti' (in cash). Keep the polite 'per favore' when asking for the bill: 'Il conto, per favore.'
When to use it
In many Italian restaurants, the bill is not brought until you ask. Say 'Il conto, per favore' when you have finished and want to leave. If you are unsure about cards, ask 'Accettate carte?' before or after the meal. At a café, you often pay at the counter (alla cassa); at a restaurant, you may pay at the table. If the server asks 'Come paga?' (How are you paying?), answer 'Con la carta' or 'In contanti'.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Scusi, il conto, per favore.
Excuse me, the bill, please.SKOO-zee, eel KON-toh, pehr fah-VOH-rehCerto. Come paga?
Of course. How are you paying?CHER-toh. KOH-meh PAH-gahPosso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay by card?POS-soh pah-GAH-reh kon lah KAR-tahSì, certo. Sono ventidue euro.
Yes, of course. It's twenty-two euros.see, CHER-toh. SOH-noh ven-tee-DOO-eh EH-oo-rohA little context goes a long way
In Italy, asking for the bill is normal and not rude; waiting for it to appear may keep you sitting for a long time. 'Il conto, per favore' works in restaurants, while at a café you often say 'Il conto, per favore' at the counter. Card acceptance is widespread in cities but can be limited in small towns or for very small amounts, so it is sensible to ask 'Accettate carte?' if you are unsure. Tipping is not obligatory; a small rounding up or a few euros is appreciated but optional.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Posso pagare con carta?' without the article, or saying 'Posso pago con la carta?'
Try this instead: After 'posso', use the infinitive: 'Posso pagare con la carta?' The article 'la' is normally used before 'carta' in this phrase. Avoid conjugating the second verb: not 'posso pago'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for the bill politely in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Il conto, per favore.
This is the standard polite request. You could also say 'Mi porta il conto, per favore?' in a restaurant, but 'Il conto, per favore' is the most common and clear.
2How do you ask 'Can I pay by card?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Posso pagare con la carta?
This uses 'Posso' + infinitive 'pagare' + 'con la carta'. A valid alternative is 'Si può pagare con la carta?' (Can one pay by card?), which is slightly more impersonal.
3The server asks 'Come paga?' How can you answer that you are paying in cash?
Show a sample answer
Pago in contanti.
'In contanti' means 'in cash'. You could also say 'In contanti' as a short answer. If you pay by card, answer 'Con la carta'.
To end a meal in Italian, say 'Il conto, per favore' and ask 'Posso pagare con la carta?' if you want to pay by card. Keep it polite and simple.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Italian into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr