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Spanish Phrase

¿Me explicas la cuenta?

/me ekspliˈkas la ˈkwen.ta/
Meaning"Can you explain the bill to me?"
💡

Meaning

A polite request asking someone to explain the bill or the details of a charge. It can be used in a restaurant, café, or when reviewing a receipt, and it implies the speaker wants clarification on the amounts listed.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you receive a check at a restaurant and want the waiter to break down the items, or when you receive an invoice and need the seller to clarify the charges. It’s also appropriate in informal settings with friends or family.

✦Grammar Breakdown

¿Meexplicaslacuenta?

1

Indirect object pronoun (me)

‘Me’ indicates that the action of the verb is directed toward the speaker; it replaces ‘a mí’.

2

Verb conjugation (explicas)

‘Explicas’ is the present‑tense, second‑person singular form of ‘explicar’, used when speaking to someone you address as ‘tú’.

3

Definite article + noun (la cuenta)

‘La cuenta’ means ‘the bill’ (or ‘the account’). The article agrees in gender and number with the noun.

4

Question marks (¿ ?)

Spanish uses an opening (¿) and closing (?) question mark; both are required.

🗨In Conversation

A

¿Me explicas la cuenta?

Can you explain the bill to me?

Claro, el total es 45 euros: 30 por la comida, 10 por la bebida y 5 de servicio.

Sure, the total is 45 euros: 30 for the food, 10 for the drinks, and 5 for service.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • ¿Me explica la cuenta?

    ‘Explica’ is third‑person singular (él/ella/usted); you need second‑person singular ‘explicas’ when speaking to a friend or waiter informally.

  • ¿La cuenta me explicas?

    Word order should place the pronoun before the verb; ‘Me explicas la cuenta’ is the natural order.

  • Me explicas la cuenta.

    Spanish questions require opening and closing question marks; omit them and the sentence looks like a statement.

↔Alternatives

  • ¿Podrías explicarme la cuenta?

    Could you explain the bill to me?

  • ¿Me puedes desglosar la cuenta?

    Can you break down the bill for me?

  • ¿Me aclaras la cuenta, por favor?

    Could you clarify the bill, please?

es

Cultural Tip

In many Spanish‑speaking countries it’s customary to say ‘por favor’ or use a soft tone when asking for the bill, especially in formal restaurants. ‘Cuenta’ can also refer to a bank account, so context matters – in a dining setting it always means the check. Remember that using ‘tú’ (explicas) is informal; with a waiter you can also use the more formal ‘usted’ – ‘¿Me explica la cuenta?’ – if you want to be extra polite.