Portuguese Phrase
Tá pronto pra pagar?
Meaning
Literally ‘Are you ready to pay?’. It’s the informal way to check if someone is prepared to settle a bill, whether at a restaurant, a taxi, or any service where payment is expected.
When to use
Use it in casual settings with friends, family, or acquaintances—especially when you’re about to hand over the check or ask for the payment. It’s too informal for a formal business meeting or written correspondence.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Táprontoprapagar?
Tá = está
Informal contraction of the verb estar (third‑person singular), used like ‘is’ in English.
pronto (adjective)
Means ‘ready’; agrees in gender and number with the subject (pronta, prontos, prontas).
pra = para
Colloquial shortening of the preposition para, meaning ‘for/to’. Common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Infinitive verb
Pagar is the infinitive form of ‘to pay’; after para/pra the infinitive is used without a personal ending.
Question intonation
Rising intonation at the end of the sentence signals a yes/no question; the written question mark reinforces this.
🗨In Conversation
Tá pronto pra pagar?
Are you ready to pay?
Sim, já trouxe o cartão.
Yes, I already have the card.
✕Common Mistakes
Pronto para pagar?
Missing the verb ‘está’ makes the sentence sound incomplete in spoken Portuguese.
Tá pronto para pagar?
Mixing the informal ‘Tá’ with the formal preposition ‘para’ is unusual; speakers usually keep the whole sentence informal (pra) or formal (para).
Tá pronta pra pagar?
Use ‘pronto’ (masculine) when referring to a male or a neutral subject; ‘pronta’ is for a female subject.
↔Alternatives
Você está pronto para pagar?
Are you ready to pay?
Já vai pagar?
Are you going to pay now?
Tudo certo para o pagamento?
Everything set for the payment?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil it’s common to ask ‘Tá pronto pra pagar?’ right before the waiter brings the check or the driver asks for the fare. The phrase is very informal; in a more formal context you’d say ‘Você está pronto para pagar?’. Also, Brazilians often use a friendly tone and may follow the question with a smile, signalling that the request is polite, not demanding.