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PhrasesOrdering CoffeeQuanto mi deve?
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Quanto mi deve?

How much do I owe you?

Pronunciation

DE-ve — two syllables, stress on first.

When to use it

After being served at the bar when you want to pay. More informal than 'quanto costa' — assumes a service relationship.

What it means

'Mi deve' literally means 'you owe me' — but in this context it means 'how much do I owe you'. It is a common, slightly informal way to ask for the total. The barista will tell you the price and you pay directly at the bar.

Variations

Quant'è?

How much is it?

Even shorter — contraction of 'quanto è'. Very casual but widely used

Pago adesso?

Do I pay now?

Confirm whether to pay immediately or at the end

Tenga il resto.

Keep the change.

If you want to round up — a common way of leaving a small tip at the bar

Mini Dialogue

— Quanto mi deve? — Sono 2,70 — il cappuccino e il cornetto. — Ecco tre euro — tenga il resto. — Grazie mille! A presto.

— How much do I owe you? — That's 2.70 — the cappuccino and the croissant. — Here is three euros — keep the change. — Thank you very much! See you soon.

Cultural Note

Leaving the coins as a small tip by saying 'tenga il resto' (keep the change) is the standard Italian way to tip at a bar. It is not expected but appreciated. Rounding up to the nearest euro is the most common version — nobody tips at the bar the way they do in restaurants.