How to Split the Bill in Portuguese: Paying Together or Separately — Practice

Ask for the check politely

A conta is the bill. To get the server’s attention, say Com licença and then A conta, por favor. In many restaurants, the bill arrives after you ask for it.

If you are not ready to pay, say Só mais um minuto, por favor. This lets the server know you are still deciding.

Say whether you want separate payments

Ask whether everyone can pay separately: Podemos pagar separado? If you prefer one transaction, say Vamos pagar tudo junto.

Payment procedures vary by restaurant. Clarify the arrangement before the server processes payment, especially if everyone wants to use a different method.

Choose an even split or pay by item

Dividir a conta means to split the bill. You can ask to divide the total evenly or pay according to what each person ordered; say which arrangement you mean.

If you are unsure about a service charge, ask whether it is included. A conta and taxa de serviço are useful words to recognize on a bill.

Remember: Specify one payment, separate payments, an even split, or each person’s own items so the restaurant knows what you mean.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. Excuse me, the check, please.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Com licença, a conta, por favor.

2. Could you bring the bill when you can?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode trazer a conta quando puder?

3. Just one more minute; we’re still choosing.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Só mais um minuto; ainda estamos escolhendo.

4. Can we pay separately?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Podemos pagar separado?

5. We’ll pay everything together on the same card.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vamos pagar tudo junto no mesmo cartão.

6. Can each person pay their own share?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Cada pessoa pode pagar a sua parte?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Specify one payment, separate payments, an even split, or each person’s own items so the restaurant knows what you mean.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Split the Bill in Portuguese: Paying Together or Separately lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.