A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I'd like to check out" in Spanish
Say 'Quisiera pagar la cuenta' to politely ask for your bill at a restaurant or hotel.
Quisiera pagar la cuenta
kee-SYEH-rah pah-GAHR lah KWEN-tahneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when you're finished eating at a restaurant or have completed your stay at a hotel. It's the polite way to signal you're ready to settle your bill.
Alternatives
- Quiero pagar la cuentaSlightly more direct, less polite than 'quisiera'.
- La cuenta, por favorA very common and direct way to ask for the bill.
Ways to get it wrong
Checking out of a hotel
For checking out of a hotel, 'hacer el check-out' or 'irme' is more common than asking to pay the bill.
Confusing 'cuenta' with 'account'
'Cuenta' means 'bill' or 'check' in this context, not a bank account.
A small cultural note
While 'Quisiera pagar la cuenta' is polite, in some very casual settings, a simple 'La cuenta, por favor' is perfectly acceptable.
Frequently asked
How do I ask for the bill in Spanish?
The most common way is 'Quisiera pagar la cuenta' or the more direct 'La cuenta, por favor'. Both are understood widely.
What's the difference between 'quiero' and 'quisiera'?
'Quiero' means 'I want' and is more direct. 'Quisiera' means 'I would like' and is considered more polite and softer.
Can I use this for checking out of a hotel?
While you'll pay your bill when checking out of a hotel, the specific phrase for the action is often 'hacer el check-out' or simply 'irme'.
