Può prepararmi il conto, per favore?

Can you prepare my bill, please?

Pronunciation

CON-to — two syllables, stress on the first. The double 'n' is pronounced slightly longer.

When to use it

Ask the receptionist to prepare your itemised bill before you settle. Standard practice at Italian hotels.

What it means

'Può prepararmi' uses the formal modal 'potere' (can) + indirect object pronoun 'mi' (to me). 'Conto' means bill, account, or tab. In Italian restaurants and hotels, 'il conto' is the universal term for the bill.

Variations

Posso vedere il conto dettagliato?

Can I see the itemised bill?

Request an itemised breakdown if the total seems incorrect

C'è un errore nel conto.

There is an error in the bill.

Say this politely if you spot a discrepancy

Posso avere la ricevuta fiscale?

Can I have the fiscal receipt?

Request this for business travel reimbursement — it is different from a standard receipt

Mini Dialogue

— Può prepararmi il conto, per favore? Parto tra mezz'ora. — Certamente. Lo preparo subito. Vuole la colazione inclusa o separata? — Tutto insieme va bene. — Ecco il suo conto. Sono trecentoventi euro in totale.

— Can you prepare my bill, please? I am leaving in half an hour. — Certainly. I will prepare it right away. Do you want breakfast included or separate? — All together is fine. — Here is your bill. It is three hundred and twenty euros in total.

Cultural Note

Italian hotels must by law issue a fiscal receipt ('ricevuta fiscale') or invoice ('fattura') for all payments. Business travellers should specifically request a 'fattura intestata' (company invoice) with their company's tax number ('partita IVA') for expense purposes.

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Vorrei fare il check-out, per favore.

Mi sembra ci sia un errore nel conto.

← All phrases: Checking Out of Hotel