How to Say ‘Excuse me (to a young waiter), the check, please.’ in Mexican Spanish
Joven, la cuenta, por favor.
HOH-ben lah KWEN-tah pohr fah-BOHR
[HOH-ben lah KWEN-tah pohr fah-BOHR]
Phrase Breakdown
Joven, la cuenta,
HOH-ben lah KWEN-tah
Excuse me (young man), the check,
In Mexico, 'joven' is a polite way to call a waiter. The 'j' is a breathy 'h' sound: HO-ven.
Joven, la cuenta, cuando pueda.
Excuse me, the check, when you can.
Words in this phrase
Joven
[HOH-ben]
young man (polite address)
Literally 'young'; in Mexico a common friendly way to address a man, even a not-so-young one.
Gracias, joven, ¿cuánto le debo?
Thanks, young man, how much do I owe you?
la
[lah]
the
Feminine singular definite article used before a feminine noun.
La frase «La cultura de trabajo» empieza con «La».
The phrase “The work culture” begins with “La.”
cuenta
[KWEN-tah]
bill / check
Feminine noun for the bill at a restaurant; also means an account.
Pedimos la cuenta al mesero.
We asked the waiter for the check.
por favor.
pohr fah-BOHR
please.
Say it politely and stress 'vor'.
Un café, por favor.
A coffee, please.
Words in this phrase
por
[pohr]
for
Common preposition used to indicate reason, motive, or thanks.
Te escribo "Por" tu apoyo durante la feria de empleo.
I’m writing to you for your support during the job fair.
favor
[fah-BOHR]
favor (please)
With 'por', forms the polite word 'please'.
Agua, por favor.
Water, please.
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered feedback on what you say out loud
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Lessons for Your Situation
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Moved to Mexico City for work and needed to get conversational fast. Two weeks of daily practice and I was ordering tacos and negotiating with my landlord in Spanish.”
David K., 35, Startup Founder
“I spent a month backpacking through Colombia and this app was a lifesaver. The lessons meant I could handle real situations from day one.”
Rachel T., 26, Travel Blogger
“Learning a language has never been as immediately impactful. Now I can charm the locals and navigate the food scene like a boss.”
Alex M., 42, Software Engineer