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How to Say ‘Do I just show it when I pay the bill?’ in Portuguese

Basta mostrá-lo na altura de pagar a conta?

BASH-tah moosh-TRAH-loo nah al-TOO-rah duh pah-GAR ah KOHN-tah

[BASH-tah moosh-TRAH-loo nah al-TOO-rah duh pah-GAR ah KOHN-tah]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Waiters in Portugal won't bring the bill until you ask for it with A conta, por favor. That is the moment to hand over your parking ticket.

Phrase Breakdown

Basta mostrá-lo

BASH-tah moosh-TRAH-loo

Is it enough to show it

'Basta' means 'it's enough' or 'you just have to'. 'Mostrá-lo' is 'mostrar' plus 'o' (it), and the stress falls on 'TRA'.

Example

Basta mostrá-lo à entrada.

Just show it at the entrance.

Words in this phrase

Basta

[BASH-tah]

it's enough

From 'bastar'; means it is sufficient to do something.

Example

Basta ligar para o hotel.

You just need to call the hotel.

mostrá-lo

[moosh-TRAH-loo]

to show it

'Mostrar' plus the pronoun 'lo' (it).

Example

Pode mostrá-lo à entrada.

You can show it at the entrance.

na altura de

nah al-TOO-rah duh

at the time of

'Na altura de' means 'when it's time to'. It is very common in Portugal.

Example

Na altura de sair, liga-me.

When it's time to leave, call me.

Words in this phrase

[nah]

at the (feminine singular)

“na” = “em + a”, meaning “in/at the” with a feminine singular noun.

Example

Compras na bilheteira ou na máquina automática.

You buy at the ticket office or at the machine.

altura

[al-TOO-rah]

time, moment

In 'na altura de' means 'at the time of'.

Example

Nessa altura eu morava aqui.

At that time I lived here.

[duh]

A preposition meaning "of" or "for," depending on context.

Example

Falámos de carreira durante o intervalo.

We talked about career matters during the break.

pagar a conta?

pah-GAR ah KOHN-tah

paying the bill?

Infinitive 'pagar' plus 'a conta', the bill. Use a rising intonation for the question.

Example

Posso pagar a conta?

Can I pay the bill?

Words in this phrase

pagar

[pah-GAR]

to pay

Infinitive verb meaning to pay for something.

Example

Quero pagar agora.

I want to pay now.

[ah]

the (feminine singular)

Same article "a" used before a feminine noun; often unstressed in speech.

Example

A estação é ali à direita.

The station is right there on the right.

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?

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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