Haggle in Spanish: Ask 'Can You Give Me a Discount?' and Negotiate a Better Price
Learn to ask for a discount in Latin American Spanish, make a counteroffer, and respond to common vendor replies with polite bargaining phrases.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In many Latin American markets, asking for a discount is normal and expected, but the way you ask matters. This lesson teaches you how to say 'Can you give me a discount?' in Spanish, make a lower counteroffer, and respond when the seller says no or gives a counteroffer. You will practice phrases for markets, small shops, and informal service situations. The focus is on polite but effective bargaining, not just paying the stated price.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a discount using ¿Me puede hacer un descuento? and similar phrases.
- make a counteroffer with Te doy... or ¿Qué tal si...?
- respond to a seller's counteroffer and close the deal.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¿Me puede hacer un descuento?
Can you give me a discount?
meh PWEH-deh ah-SEHR oon des-KWEN-toh
Polite and widely useful in Latin America. Use with vendors, taxi drivers, or service providers. For informal settings, you can say ¿Me haces un descuento?
¿Cuánto es lo menos?
What's the lowest you can go?
KWAHN-toh es loh MEH-nohs
Very common in markets. It asks for the seller's best price without naming a number first.
Te doy diez mil.
I'll give you ten thousand.
teh doy dyehs MEEL
Use when making a counteroffer. Replace diez mil with your price. In some countries, 'te doy' is informal; use 'le doy' for formal.
¿Qué tal si me lo dejas en ocho mil?
How about you let me have it for eight thousand?
keh tahl see meh loh DEH-hahs en OH-choh MEEL
Friendly bargaining phrase. 'Dejar' here means 'to let go for' a price. Common in Mexico and Central America.
Es muy caro. ¿No me puedes dar un descuento?
It's very expensive. Can't you give me a discount?
es mwee KAH-roh noh meh PWEH-dehs dahr oon des-KWEN-toh
Softens the request by expressing that the price feels high. Use a friendly tone to avoid sounding rude.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask for a discount, use '¿Me puede hacer un descuento?' (formal) or '¿Me haces un descuento?' (informal). To make a counteroffer, use 'Te doy + [amount]' or '¿Qué tal si me lo dejas en + [amount]?'. For example: '¿Me puede hacer un descuento?' — 'Te doy ocho mil.' — '¿Qué tal si me lo dejas en nueve mil?' Notice that 'lo' refers to the item. If the item is feminine, use 'la': '¿Qué tal si me la dejas en nueve mil?'
When to use it
Use these phrases in open-air markets, with street vendors, or in small shops where bargaining is common. In formal stores with fixed prices, asking for a discount may be less appropriate. Start with '¿Me puede hacer un descuento?' and wait for the seller's response. If they say no, you can try '¿Cuánto es lo menos?' or make a counteroffer. Always keep a friendly tone; bargaining is often a social exchange, not a confrontation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buenas, ¿cuánto cuesta esta mochila?
Hi, how much does this backpack cost?BWEH-nahs KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah EHS-tah moh-CHEE-lahTe la dejo en veinte mil.
I'll let you have it for twenty thousand.teh lah DEH-hoh en BEHN-teh MEELEs un poco caro. ¿Me puede hacer un descuento?
It's a bit expensive. Can you give me a discount?es oon POH-koh KAH-roh meh PWEH-deh ah-SEHR oon des-KWEN-tohTe la dejo en dieciocho mil, pero es lo menos.
I'll let you have it for eighteen thousand, but that's the lowest.teh lah DEH-hoh en dyeh-see-OH-choh MEEL PEH-roh es loh MEH-nohsA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American markets, bargaining is expected and can be a friendly interaction. However, in department stores or chain shops, prices are usually fixed, and asking for a discount may be seen as unusual. In some countries, like Argentina and Uruguay, bargaining is less common in retail, while in Mexico, Peru, and Bolivia, it is more accepted in markets. Always use a polite tone and a smile; aggressive bargaining can be considered rude.
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Puedo tener un descuento?' to mean 'Can I have a discount?'
Try this instead: This is a literal translation and sounds unnatural. Instead, say '¿Me puede hacer un descuento?' or '¿Me haces un descuento?' The verb 'hacer' is used for giving a discount, not 'tener'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you politely ask a vendor for a discount in Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¿Me puede hacer un descuento?
This is the standard polite form. In informal situations, '¿Me haces un descuento?' is also correct.
2The vendor says 'Veinte mil.' You want to offer fifteen thousand. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
Te doy quince mil.
This makes a direct counteroffer. You could also say '¿Qué tal si me lo dejas en quince mil?'
3What does '¿Cuánto es lo menos?' mean?
Show a sample answer
What's the lowest you can go?
It asks for the seller's best price. It is very common in markets and informal shops.
Start with '¿Me puede hacer un descuento?' and be ready to make a counteroffer with 'Te doy...' or '¿Qué tal si...?'. Keep it friendly and know when bargaining is appropriate.
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