At the restaurant
Order food, ask for the bill and say what you want
Context
Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.
Camarero
Buenas noches. ¿Qué quieren tomar?
Good evening. What would you like to drink?
Carmen
Quiero una limonada, por favor.
I want a lemonade, please.
Carlos
Para mí, una cerveza.
For me, a beer.
Camarero
¿Qué van a comer?
What are you going to eat?
Carmen
Quiero el plato del día, por favor.
I want the daily special, please.
Carlos
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Could you bring me the check, please?
Practice the dialogue
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Vocabulary
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la comida
La comida está deliciosa.
'Comida' means food, but it can also mean 'lunch' in many Latin American countries.
the food
Savequerer
Quiero un café, por favor.
'Querer' changes e→ie in the present: quiero, quieres, quiere.
to want
Savetomar
¿Qué quieres tomar?
In Latin America 'tomar' is the common verb for 'to drink'.
to drink / to have
Savela cuenta
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
To ask for the bill say 'la cuenta', not 'la factura' (invoice).
the check / the bill
SaveGrammar in 1 minute
The verb 'querer' (to want)
Use 'querer' to say what you want. It is irregular (e→ie): yo quiero, tú quieres, él/ella quiere. At the restaurant, 'Quiero...' is a polite and easy way to order.
Yo quiero una limonada. Tú quieres el menú. Ella quiere la cuenta.
Ordering with 'Quiero...' sounds natural and polite in Latin American restaurants.
The verb 'tener' (to have) and needs
'Tener' means 'to have': yo tengo, tú tienes, él/ella tiene. It is also used for feelings: 'tengo hambre' (I'm hungry), 'tengo sed' (I'm thirsty).
Tengo hambre. Tengo sed. Tienes un plato delicioso.
'Tengo hambre' literally means 'I have hunger'. Never say 'yo soy hambre'!
Polite requests with '¿Me trae...?'
To ask a waiter for something politely, use '¿Me trae...?' (could you bring me...?). It uses the formal form of 'traer' (to bring) directed at the person.
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor? ¿Me trae un vaso de agua?
Add 'por favor' (please) to sound extra polite: '¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?'
Interactive practice
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What did she order?
Listen and choose what the customer wants.
What does the customer want?
Order your drink
Write the missing verb (I want).
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
Match the word to its meaning
Connect each Spanish word with its English meaning.
Ask for the bill
Write a polite request to ask for the check.
Write a polite request to ask for the check in Spanish.
Suggested answer: ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Repeat the polite request
Listen, pause and repeat out loud with a friendly tone.
¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?
Could you bring me the check, please?
Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.
Pronunciation trainer
I'm hungry
Complete the phrase with the missing word.
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
Final quiz
Score 70% or more to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want; your best score is saved.