How to Say 'Enjoy Your Meal' and Ask for the Salt Politely in Spanish
Learn polite Latin American Spanish phrases for the table: wish others a good meal, ask someone to pass the salt, and make simple requests with por favor and the right verb forms.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a table with Spanish speakers, two needs come up again and again: commenting on the meal and asking for something without sounding rude. In Spanish, politeness often comes from a short phrase plus por favor, and from choosing the right verb form. This lesson gives you five core expressions for dining, then shows the pattern behind them so you can build your own polite requests. The focus is Latin American Spanish, with regional notes where usage changes.
By the end, you can…
- wish others a good meal with a short, natural phrase.
- ask someone to pass the salt or another item politely.
- make simple requests at the table using por favor and the correct verb form.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
¡Buen provecho!
Enjoy your meal!
BWEHN proh-VEH-choh
The standard table wish in most of Latin America. Say it before eating or as you leave the table. In Spain, people often say '¡Que aproveche!' instead. In Mexico, 'provecho' is also used as a greeting when passing someone who is eating.
¿Me pasas la sal, por favor?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
meh PAH-sahs lah sahl, pohr fah-BOHR
Friendly and common with family or friends. The verb 'pasas' is the informal 'tú' form. Adding 'por favor' keeps it polite. In Argentina and parts of Central America, the informal form is '¿Me pasás la sal?' with 'vos'.
¿Me puede pasar la sal, por favor?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
meh PWEH-deh PAH-sahr lah sahl, pohr fah-BOHR
More formal or respectful. Use 'puede' with strangers, older people, or anyone you address as 'usted'. In much of Mexico and Central America, 'usted' is also common with acquaintances, so this form is widely useful.
Está muy rico.
It's very tasty.
ehs-TAH mwee REE-koh
A simple compliment about food. If you are talking about a feminine noun like 'la sopa', say 'Está muy rica'. In some regions people say 'Está muy sabroso' or 'Está delicioso'.
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Could you bring me the bill, please?
meh TRAH-eh lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHR
Useful at a restaurant when you are ready to pay. 'Trae' here is the formal 'usted' form, common with servers. You can also say '¿Me puede traer la cuenta, por favor?' with the same meaning.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
For polite requests, Spanish often uses a question with 'me' plus a verb: '¿Me pasas...?' (informal) or '¿Me puede pasar...?' (formal). The word 'por favor' can go at the end or the beginning. Examples: '¿Me pasas el pan, por favor?' (Can you pass the bread?) and '¿Me puede traer agua, por favor?' (Could you bring me water?). Notice that the item usually takes 'el' or 'la': 'el pan', 'la sal', 'la cuenta'. In Argentina and some other regions, the informal form is '¿Me pasás...?' with 'vos' instead of 'tú'.
When to use it
Use '¡Buen provecho!' when food arrives or when you start eating with others. Use '¿Me pasas...?' with people you know well, and '¿Me puede pasar...?' with people you do not know well or want to show respect. For compliments, 'Está muy rico' works for a dish in general; change to 'rica' if the food word is feminine, as in 'La sopa está muy rica'. At the end of a meal, '¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?' is a natural restaurant request. Remember that 'tú' and 'usted' usage varies by country and relationship.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
¡Buen provecho!
Enjoy your meal!BWEHN proh-VEH-chohGracias. ¿Me pasas la sal, por favor?
Thanks. Could you pass me the salt, please?GRAH-syahs. meh PAH-sahs lah sahl, pohr fah-BOHRSí, aquí está. Está muy rico, ¿no?
Yes, here it is. It's very tasty, isn't it?see, ah-KEE ehs-TAH. ehs-TAH mwee REE-koh, nohSí, está delicioso. ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Yes, it's delicious. Could you bring me the bill, please?see, ehs-TAH deh-lee-SYOH-soh. meh TRAH-eh lah KWEHN-tah, pohr fah-BOHRA little context goes a long way
In many Latin American countries, '¡Buen provecho!' is said by diners to each other, and sometimes by servers as they bring food. It is not a religious blessing, so it is fine in most settings. In Spain, '¡Que aproveche!' is more common. Also, 'tú' and 'usted' vary by country and relationship: in much of Mexico and Central America, 'usted' can be used even with people you know, while in Argentina 'vos' replaces 'tú' in informal speech. In some regions, 'provecho' is also used as a greeting when passing someone who is eating.
One thing to watch for
Using '¿Me pasas la sal?' with a stranger or someone you address formally.
Try this instead: Use the formal form with 'puede': '¿Me puede pasar la sal, por favor?' The informal 'pasas' is fine with friends and family, but 'puede' shows respect with strangers, older people, or servers. In Argentina, the informal form is '¿Me pasás la sal?' with 'vos'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you wish a friend 'Enjoy your meal' in Latin American Spanish?
Show a sample answer
¡Buen provecho!
This is the standard table wish in most of Latin America. In Spain, '¡Que aproveche!' is more common, so that is also a valid regional alternative.
2You are at a restaurant and want the bill. What polite question can you ask?
Show a sample answer
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
This uses the formal 'trae' with 'usted', which is common with restaurant staff. You could also say '¿Me puede traer la cuenta, por favor?' with the same meaning.
3A friend passes you the bread. How do you say 'It's very tasty' about 'el pan'?
Show a sample answer
Está muy rico.
'El pan' is masculine, so 'rico' matches. If you were talking about 'la sopa', you would say 'Está muy rica'.
Keep it short and add 'por favor': '¡Buen provecho!' to wish others a good meal, '¿Me pasas...?' with friends, and '¿Me puede pasar...?' for polite formal requests. In Argentina, use '¿Me pasás...?' with 'vos'.
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