Italian Phrase
Accetti pagamenti con il cellulare?
Meaning
A polite question asked to a shopkeeper, waiter, or any service provider to find out whether they accept payments made through a mobile phone (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, contactless apps). The phrase is neutral in register and works in both informal and formal contexts.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are about to pay for a purchase or service and want to know if you can use your smartphone as the payment method. It is common in cafés, boutiques, taxis, and even at market stalls that have upgraded to digital terminals.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Accettipagamenticonilcellulare?
Accetti (verb)
Second‑person singular present indicative of *accettare*; can be used both for informal *tu* and formal *Lei*.
pagamenti (noun)
Plural masculine noun meaning “payments”. It follows the verb directly as the direct object.
con (preposition)
Means “with”. It introduces the instrument or means used to perform the action.
il cellulare (noun + article)
Masculine singular noun for “cell phone”. The definite article *il* is required in standard Italian.
Question mark
In spoken Italian the intonation rises at the end; in writing the question mark follows the whole clause.
🗨In Conversation
Accetti pagamenti con il cellulare?
Do you accept payments with the cell phone?
Sì, accettiamo Apple Pay, Google Pay e anche le app di pagamento locali.
Yes, we accept Apple Pay, Google Pay and also local payment apps.
✕Common Mistakes
Accettate pagamenti con il cellulare?
Use *accetti* for a single person (tu/Lei). *Accettate* is the second‑person plural form used when addressing *voi*.
Accetti pagamento con il cellulare?
The noun should be plural because you are referring to any kind of payment, not a single transaction.
Accetti pagamenti con il cellulari?
The article *il* requires the singular form *cellulare*; *cellulari* would be plural and change the meaning.
↔Alternatives
Accettate pagamenti tramite cellulare?
Do you accept payments via cell phone?
Posso pagare con il cellulare?
Can I pay with my cell phone?
Accettate pagamenti contactless?
Do you accept contactless payments?
Cultural Tip
In many Italian towns cash is still king, but larger cities and chain stores increasingly support mobile wallets. When speaking to older shopkeepers, you might prefer the more formal *Lei* form (e.g., *Accetta pagamenti con il cellulare?*). In the north, people sometimes say *telefono* instead of *cellulare*, but *cellulare* is universally understood.