Spanish for Finishing a Meal: Ask for the Check and Payment Methods
Learn to say 'The bill, please' and 'Can I pay by card?' in Latin American Spanish, plus key phrases for ending a meal politely.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you finish eating in a Spanish-speaking restaurant, you need a few specific phrases to end the meal smoothly. This lesson teaches you how to ask for the check and ask about payment methods in broadly useful Latin American Spanish. You will learn the difference between asking for the bill and asking to pay, how to say 'The bill, please' and 'Can I pay by card?', and how to respond if the server mentions cash only. The focus is on polite, clear requests that work in most restaurants, from casual to mid-range.
By the end, you can…
- ask for the check politely in a restaurant.
- ask whether card payment is accepted.
- understand and respond to common payment questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
La cuenta, por favor.
The bill, please.
lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHR
Standard polite way to ask for the check after a meal. Use it in any Spanish-speaking country.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn tar-HEH-tah
Use this to ask if card payment is accepted. 'Tarjeta' can mean credit or debit card.
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
Do you accept card?
ah-SEHP-tahn tar-HEH-tah
A shorter, very common way to ask about card payment before you order or when the bill arrives.
¿Efectivo o tarjeta?
Cash or card?
eh-fehk-TEE-voh oh tar-HEH-tah
You may hear this from the server. It means they are asking how you want to pay.
Solo efectivo.
Cash only.
SOH-loh eh-fehk-TEE-voh
If the server says this, it means they do not take cards. You will need cash.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for something politely in a restaurant, use the phrase plus 'por favor'. For the check, say 'La cuenta, por favor.' To ask about payment, use '¿Puedo pagar con...?' and then the method: '¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?' (Can I pay by card?) or '¿Puedo pagar con efectivo?' (Can I pay with cash?). You can also ask '¿Aceptan...?' followed by the payment method: '¿Aceptan tarjeta?' This pattern works for other methods too, like '¿Aceptan transferencia?' (Do you accept bank transfer?).
When to use it
Ask for the check only when you are ready to leave, not while still eating. In many Latin American restaurants, the server will not bring the check until you ask, so 'La cuenta, por favor' is essential. If you want to know about payment before ordering, ask '¿Aceptan tarjeta?' at the start. When the server asks '¿Efectivo o tarjeta?', answer with your choice: 'Tarjeta, por favor' or 'Efectivo, por favor'. If you need to split the bill, say '¿Podemos pagar por separado?' (Can we pay separately?).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
La cuenta, por favor.
The bill, please.lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHRClaro. ¿Efectivo o tarjeta?
Sure. Cash or card?KLAH-roh. eh-fehk-TEE-voh oh tar-HEH-tah¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?PWEH-doh pah-GAHR kohn tar-HEH-tahSí, aceptamos tarjeta.
Yes, we accept card.see, ah-sehp-TAH-mohs tar-HEH-tahA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American restaurants, especially mid-range and upscale ones, the server brings the card terminal to your table. In smaller places or markets, cash is often preferred or required. Tipping is not always included; in some countries like Mexico, a 10-15% tip is common if service was good, while in others it may be optional. When in doubt, ask '¿El servicio está incluido?' (Is service included?).
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?' to mean 'Can I pay with a card?' but then assuming the answer is always yes.
Try this instead: The question is correct, but you must listen to the answer. If the server says 'Solo efectivo', you cannot pay by card. In that case, ask '¿Dónde hay un cajero?' (Where is an ATM?) or pay with cash if you have it. Always confirm: '¿Aceptan tarjeta?' before relying on card payment.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for the check in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
La cuenta, por favor.
This is the standard polite phrase. You could also say '¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?' which is equally correct and slightly more formal.
2How do you ask if they accept card payment?
Show a sample answer
¿Aceptan tarjeta?
This is a direct yes/no question. Another valid option is '¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?' Both work, but '¿Aceptan tarjeta?' is often used before ordering.
3The server says 'Solo efectivo.' What does that mean and what should you do?
Show a sample answer
It means 'Cash only.' You should pay with cash or ask where to find an ATM.
'Solo efectivo' indicates cards are not accepted. You can respond '¿Dónde hay un cajero?' to find an ATM, or use cash if available.
Remember: 'La cuenta, por favor' ends the meal, and '¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?' checks card payment. Listen for 'Solo efectivo' and always have a backup plan.
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