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Catalan · Cafés & restaurants · Elementary

How to ask for the bill in Catalan

In Catalonia the bill only comes when you ask: say “El compte, si us plau” or “Ens porta el compte, si us plau?”. To split it, ask “Podem dividir el compte a parts iguals entre els quatre?” or “Voldríem pagar per separat”. Tipping is optional; many people leave some change.

Try it · about two minutes

At the end of a meal with friends you ask for the bill, decide how to split it and whether to leave a tip.

Sound on: the waiter speaks Catalan. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

  1. Waiter

    Vol veure la carta de postres?

    Would you like to see the dessert menu?

    You

    Ens porta el compte, si us plau?

    Could you bring us the bill, please?

  2. Waiter

    Us ho cobro tot junt?

    Shall I put it all on one bill?

    You

    Podem dividir el compte a parts iguals entre els quatre?

    Can we split the bill equally between the four of us?

  3. Waiter

    Targeta o efectiu?

    Card or cash?

    You

    Amb targeta, si us plau.

    By card, please.

  4. Waiter

    Ho sento, el datàfon no funciona.

    Sorry, the card machine isn’t working.

    You

    Cap problema, pago en efectiu.

    No problem, I’ll pay in cash.

  5. You pay in cash. The waiter brings back your change on a small plate.

    You

    Quedi's el canvi.

    Keep the change.

  6. Waiter

    Gràcies per venir.

    Thanks for coming.

    You

    Tot estava boníssim, gràcies.

    Everything was delicious, thanks.

Key phrases

  • El compte, si us plau.

    The bill, please.

  • Ens porta el compte, si us plau?

    Could you bring us the bill, please?

  • Podem dividir el compte a parts iguals entre els quatre?

    Can we split the bill equally between the four of us?

  • Voldríem pagar per separat.

    We’d like to pay separately.

  • Targeta o efectiu?

    Card or cash?

  • Ho sento, el datàfon no funciona.

    Sorry, the card machine isn’t working.

  • Aquí es deixa propina o ja està inclosa?

    Do people tip here, or is it included?

  • Crec que hi ha un error al compte.

    I think there’s a mistake on the bill.

  • Quedi's el canvi.

    Keep the change.

  • Tot estava boníssim, gràcies.

    Everything was delicious, thanks.

Good to know in Catalonia

How paying usually goes

  1. 1

    The bill only comes when you ask for it.

    The bill, please.
  2. 2

    Groups often split the total equally: pagar a escot.

  3. 3

    The waiter brings the card machine to your table.

Tipping is optional

Service is normally included in the prices. Many people round up or leave some change after a good meal, but nobody expects a set percentage. In a bar, in the tu form, it’s “Queda't el canvi”.

Quedi's el canvi.

Keep the change.

Check before you pay

If something on the bill looks wrong, say so calmly at the table. Mistakes happen on busy nights and are fixed without fuss.

Crec que hi ha un error al compte.

I think there’s a mistake on the bill.

More situations in Catalan

All situations in Catalan

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.