Spanish Phrase
Queremos pagar por separado.
Meaning
Literally ‘We want to pay separately.’ It is used when a group wants each person to settle their own part of a bill or purchase.
When to use
Typical in restaurants, cafés, taxis, or any situation where a group is splitting a cost. It can also be used when buying tickets or souvenirs together but each person prefers to handle their own payment.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Queremospagarporseparado
Queremos (querer)
First‑person plural present of querer, meaning ‘we want’. It is a regular -er verb.
pagar (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb ‘to pay’; after querer it stays in infinitive.
por separado
A prepositional phrase meaning ‘separately’. Por introduces the manner in which the action is performed.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo quieren pagar?
How would you like to pay?
Queremos pagar por separado.
We want to pay separately.
✕Common Mistakes
Queremos pagar separado.
The preposition por is required; ‘Queremos pagar separado’ is ungrammatical.
Queremos pagar por separadoes.
‘Separado’ does not change; adding an -es makes it incorrect.
Queremos pagar por separado la cuenta.
While understandable, the natural order is ‘pagar la cuenta por separado’. Placing ‘por separado’ after the noun sounds awkward.
↔Alternatives
Preferimos dividir la cuenta.
We prefer to split the bill.
Cada uno paga lo suyo.
Each one pays his/her own part.
Quisiera pagar por mi cuenta.
I would like to pay for myself.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries it’s perfectly normal to ask to split the check, especially in larger restaurants or when the group is big. However, in small family‑run eateries it can be seen as impolite, so a polite preface like “¿Sería posible…?” helps. Also, remember that “por separado” refers to the manner of payment, not to the amount; you still need to agree on who pays what.