Spanish Phrase
Pago con tarjeta, por favor.
Meaning
Literally ‘I pay with a card, please.’ It is a polite way to tell a waiter, cashier, or shop assistant that you would like to settle the bill using a credit or debit card.
When to use
Use this phrase in restaurants, cafés, stores, taxis, or any service where you need to indicate your preferred method of payment. It works both in casual and semi‑formal settings, as the ‘por favor’ adds courtesy.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Pagocontarjetaporfavor
Pago (verb)
First‑person singular present of *pagar* – ‘I pay / I will pay’. No subject pronoun is needed because the verb ending -o marks the speaker.
con (preposition)
Means ‘with’ and is used to indicate the instrument or means of payment.
tarjeta (noun)
A feminine noun meaning ‘card’; when used for a credit/debit card it stays singular and does not need an article in this context.
por favor (polite phrase)
Literally ‘by favor’, it softens a request. It is placed at the end of the sentence, separated by a comma in writing.
🗨In Conversation
¿Cómo le gustaría pagar?
How would you like to pay?
Pago con tarjeta, por favor.
I’ll pay with a card, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Pago con la tarjeta, por favor.
The definite article *la* makes it sound like you are referring to a specific card already known to the listener; usually you just say *tarjeta*.
Pago con tarjeta por favor.
Missing the comma can make the sentence feel rushed; the pause before *por favor* signals politeness.
Pago con tarjeta, por favor?
A question mark changes the meaning to a request for confirmation; the statement should end with a period.
↔Alternatives
Con tarjeta, por favor.
With a card, please.
Quisiera pagar con tarjeta.
I would like to pay with a card.
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
May I pay with a card?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries it is common to ask ‘¿Con tarjeta o en efectivo?’ (Card or cash?) before you answer. Adding ‘por favor’ is always appreciated, especially in more formal venues. If you have a specific card type (e.g., Visa), you can say ‘Con Visa, por favor.’