Can we split the bill in half?
dee-VEE-deh-reh — four syllables, stress on second. 'metà' = meh-TAH, stress on second syllable.
Use when dining as a pair and wanting to split equally. More specific than 'paghiamo separatamente' — you're proposing an equal 50/50 split regardless of what each person ordered.
'Dividere a metà' = split in half. 'Possiamo' = can we. This is a clear, specific request. The waiter may simply tell you the half amount and take two separate payments.
Metà per uno.
Half each.
Shorter version — very informal but clear.
Facciamo metà e metà.
Let's do half and half.
Casual phrasing between diners.
Quant'è la mia parte?
What's my share?
Asking what your individual share amounts to.
Among Italian friends, 'facciamo alla romana' (splitting equally) is very common. However, Italian culture also values treating others — it's equally normal for one person to insist on paying the entire bill as a gesture of generosity.