Spanish Phrase
Pon un 15% de propina, por favor.
Meaning
A polite request telling someone to leave a fifteen‑percent tip. The imperative ‘pon’ makes it a direct instruction, while ‘por favor’ adds courtesy.
When to use
Use this phrase when you’re paying a bill in a restaurant, café, or taxi and want to suggest a specific tip amount. It works in informal settings where you address the server or driver with ‘tú’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ponun15%depropina,porfavor.
Imperativo informal (Pon)
‘Pon’ is the informal (tú) imperative of the verb ‘poner’, used for giving direct commands to someone you address informally.
Indefinite article (un)
‘un’ is the masculine singular indefinite article, matching the masculine noun ‘propina’.
Percentage expression (15%)
Percentages are expressed with the numeral followed by the percent sign; the word ‘por ciento’ can be omitted in spoken Spanish.
Preposition ‘de’
‘de’ links the percentage to the noun, meaning ‘of’; here it connects ‘15%’ with ‘propina’.
Polite phrase (por favor)
‘por favor’ softens a command, making it courteous. It usually appears at the end of the sentence in spoken Spanish.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cuánta propina debería dejar?
How much tip should I leave?
Pon un 15% de propina, por favor.
Leave a 15% tip, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Ponga un 15% de propina, por favor.
‘Ponga’ is the formal (usted) imperative; with a familiar ‘tú’ you must use ‘pon’.
Pon un 15% de propinas, por favor.
‘Propina’ is singular; the plural ‘propinas’ would refer to multiple tips, which is not intended here.
Por favor, pon un 15% de propina.
Placing ‘por favor’ before the command is possible but less natural in spoken Spanish; it’s more common at the end.
↔Alternatives
Deja un 15% de propina, por favor.
Leave a 15% tip, please.
Añade un 15% de propina, por favor.
Add a 15% tip, please.
Podrías dejar un 15% de propina, por favor.
Could you leave a 15% tip, please.
Cultural Tip
Tipping customs vary across the Spanish‑speaking world. In many Latin American countries a 10‑15% tip is customary, but in Spain a service charge is often included in the bill, so extra tips are less common. Always check the receipt first; if a ‘servicio incluido’ line appears, an additional tip is optional.