Italian Phrase
Pago con carta, per favore.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I pay with card, please.’ The speaker is telling the cashier or server that they would like to settle the bill using a credit or debit card and adds a polite ‘please’ to keep the tone courteous.
When to use
Use this sentence in restaurants, cafés, shops, taxis or any place where you need to indicate the method of payment. It works best when you want to be clear and polite, especially in more formal or tourist‑oriented settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pagoconcarta,perfavore.
Pago (present of pagare)
‘Pago’ is the first‑person singular present indicative of the verb ‘pagare’ (to pay).
con (preposition)
‘con’ means ‘with’ and is used to indicate the instrument or means of payment.
carta (noun)
‘carta’ literally means ‘paper’, but in this context it stands for a credit/debit card. No article is needed when the noun follows ‘con’ in a payment phrase.
per favore (polite request)
A set phrase meaning ‘please’; it softens a request and is common in service interactions.
🗨In Conversation
Posso pagare con carta, per favore?
May I pay with a card, please?
Certo, accettiamo carte di credito.
Sure, we accept credit cards.
✕Common Mistakes
Pago con la carta di credito, per favore.
‘Carta di credito’ is correct, but when used after ‘con’ the article is usually omitted: ‘con carta’, not ‘con la carta di credito’.
Per favore, pago con carta.
Placing ‘per favore’ before the verb sounds unnatural in this context; it should come at the end of the request.
Pago con carta, per favore.
Using ‘Pago’ (I pay) can sound abrupt; many speakers prefer the conditional ‘Posso pagare…’ when asking.
↔Alternatives
Posso pagare con la carta?
Can I pay with the card?
Vorrei pagare con carta, grazie.
I would like to pay with a card, thank you.
Accetto di pagare con carta, per favore.
I would like to pay with a card, please.
Cultural Tip
In many parts of Italy cash is still king, especially in small towns and family‑run trattorias. In larger cities and tourist areas cards are widely accepted, but it’s courteous to ask first. Adding ‘per favore’ (or ‘grazie’ after the transaction) shows respect and can make the interaction smoother. If you’re unsure whether a place accepts cards, a quick ‘Accettate carte?’ is perfectly natural.