Asking for the bill in Italian

1. 1
   conto/ˈkonto/

   billnoun

   A sheet that shows how much you have to pay for what you ate and drank.
2. 2
   cameriere/kameˈrjɛre/

   waiternoun

   The person who brings the dishes and drinks to customers at a bar or restaurant.
3. 3
   chiedere/ˈkjɛdere/

   to askverb

   To ask someone to give you or do something for you.
4. 4

   pagareto pay

5. 5

   dividereto split

6. 6

   copertocover charge

7. 7

   manciatip

8. 8

   contantecash

9. 9

   cartacard

10. 10

    restochange

The sentences3 of 10

1. Scusi, ci porta il conto quando può?

   Excuse me, could you bring us the bill when you get a chance?

2. Il cameriere ci porta il conto tra poco.

   The waiter will bring us the bill shortly.

3. Puoi chiedere il conto mentre prendo la giacca?

   Can you ask for the bill while I grab my jacket?

Pronunciation

• cameriere/kameˈrjɛre/

  The stress falls on -rie-, and that e is open.

• chiedere/ˈkjɛdere/

  The stress is on the first syllable, chie-, with an open e: it is not said chie-DE-re.

Good to know

coperto

Most restaurants in Italy add a fixed per-person charge to the bill, the coperto, which covers bread and the table setting. It is listed on the menu, usually a few euros per head.

servizio

Sometimes the service charge is already included in the bill, sometimes it is not. It is worth checking the menu or asking, since it varies from place to place.

mancia

Tipping is not expected the way it is elsewhere. If you leave something, rounding up the bill or leaving a couple of euros is enough.

dividere il conto

Getting separate bills per person is not always easy: it is more common to split the total evenly, or have one person pay and settle up afterwards.

Questions

How do you ask for the bill in Italian?

You can say "Scusi, ci porta il conto quando può?" or "Puoi chiedere il conto mentre prendo la giacca?"

What does coperto mean on an Italian bill?

Coperto is the fixed charge the restaurant adds per person seated at the table.