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How to Say ‘The bill, please.’ in Portuguese

A conta, se faz favor.

uh KOHN-tah seh fahz fah-VOR

[uh KOHN-tah seh fahz fah-VOR]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: se faz favor is the typical Portugal way to say please to staff. Catching the waiter's eye and miming a signature in the air works too.

Phrase Breakdown

A conta,

uh KOHN-tah

The bill,

This is the standard way to ask for the bill. Make a short pause after it. The 'on' is nasal.

Example

A conta, por favor.

The bill, please.

Words in this phrase

[uh]

the

Feminine singular definite article, meaning 'the'.

Example

A empresa parece aberta a novas ideias.

The company seems open to new ideas.

conta

[KOHN-tah]

the bill

Feminine noun for the bill or check in a restaurant or café; also means an account.

Example

Pode trazer a conta?

Can you bring the bill?

se faz favor.

seh fahz fah-VOR

please

This is a very typical polite 'please' in Portugal. It often sounds like 'sfash fa-VOR'.

Example

Um café, se faz favor.

A coffee, please.

Words in this phrase

[seh]

(part of 'se faz favor')

Reflexive/impersonal particle in the polite phrase meaning 'please'.

Example

Um café, se faz favor.

A coffee, please.

faz

[fahz]

makes

Causes (something) to happen or be brought about.

Example

O filme me faz chorar.

The movie makes me cry.

favor

[fah-VOR]

favour

Noun meaning favour; used in polite phrases for 'please'.

Example

Faz-me um favor?

Can you do me a favour?

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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