Can we pay separately?
se-pa-ra-TA-men-te — six syllables, stress on the fourth.
When you are dining with others and each person wants to pay their own share individually.
'Separatamente' means 'separately'. This request is more common in tourist areas and with younger Italians. In traditional restaurants it may cause mild inconvenience — the waiter may prefer one payment and then you divide among yourselves.
Facciamo alla romana.
We'll go Dutch.
'Alla romana' literally means 'in the Roman style' — everyone pays an equal split
Facciamo conti separati.
We'll have separate bills.
More explicit — requests physically separate receipts
Pago io per tutti.
I'll pay for everyone.
Treating the table — a generous gesture common in Italian culture
Splitting bills by individual item is uncommon in Italy. The 'romana' method (equal split) is standard among friends. When one person insists on paying everything, it signals generosity and often leads to a reciprocal gesture the next time.