Phrases › Paying the Bill › Vorrei pagare prima di ordinare.

Vorrei pagare prima di ordinare.

I would like to pay before ordering.

Pronunciation

PRI-ma dee or-dee-NAH-reh. 'prima di' = before. 'ordinare' = to order.

When to use it

Use at the counter of a busy Italian bar where the standard procedure is to pay at the cashier before ordering at the counter — a common Italian bar practice.

What it means

'Prima di ordinare' = before ordering. 'Vorrei' = I would like (conditional, polite). At many Italian urban bars, the standard procedure is: pay at the 'cassa' (cashier), get a receipt ('scontrino'), then present the receipt at the counter to order.

Variations

Devo pagare prima?

Do I need to pay first?

Asking whether advance payment is required.

Si paga alla cassa o al bancone?

Do you pay at the cashier or at the counter?

Clarifying the payment procedure.

Dov'è la cassa?

Where is the cashier?

Finding the cashier in a large café.

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Vorrei pagare prima di ordinare. Come funziona qui? Barista: Si paga alla cassa lì — poi porta lo scontrino qui al bancone. Cliente: Capisco. Quanto costa un caffè macchiato? Barista: Un euro e trenta alla cassa.

Client: I would like to pay before ordering. How does it work here? Barista: You pay at the cashier over there — then bring the receipt here to the counter. Client: I understand. How much is a macchiato coffee? Barista: One euro thirty at the cashier.

Cultural Note

The 'cassa prima' (cashier first) system at Italian bars exists to prevent payment fraud and speed up the ordering process. At the Caffè San Marco in Trieste or the Gran Caffè Gambrinus in Naples, this tradition has operated for over 150 years.

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