Spanish · Everyday Verbs
"to pay" in Spanish: pagar
pagar
To pay in Spanish is pagar. Say yo pago and ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? La cuenta is the bill you pay.
How to pronounce pagar: audio and sound guideRestaurant
Pago yo esta vez. Tú pagas la próxima.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pagar
Say it
pah-GAHR / PAH-goh
/pa.ˈɣaɾ/
pah-GAHR. Soft g. Yo pago is PAH-goh. Stress on PAH.
"to pay" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| pagar | to pay Dictionary infinitive. | Dictionary infinitive. |
| yo pago | I pay Present first person. | Present first person. |
| pagar con tarjeta | to pay by card Checkout. | Checkout. |
| ¿quién paga? | who pays? Splitting the bill. | Splitting the bill. |
| ya pagué | I already paid Past; spelling with u. | Past; spelling with u. |
How to use pagar in real life
- 1Restaurant
Pago yo esta vez. Tú pagas la próxima.
I'll pay this time. You pay next.
Pago / pagas turn-taking.
- 2Checkout
¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Can I pay by card?
Pagar con tarjeta.
- 3Rent
Pagamos la renta el día primero.
We pay rent on the first.
Pagamos for we.
Mistakes English speakers make with pagar
Incorrect: Yo pagar ahora.
Correct: Yo pago ahora. / Voy a pagar ahora.
Conjugate: yo pago.
Incorrect: Yo pagé sin u (spelling in past).
Correct: Yo pagué.
Past yo form needs u: pagué, so g stays hard.
Good to know
Good to know¿La cuenta, por favor? comes before pagar. Card vs cash varies by place; asking ¿Aceptan tarjeta? is normal. Propina (tip) customs differ by country—ask locals rather than assuming one rule.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Splitting a café bill
ChatPal
¿Pagas tú o pagamos a medias?
Do you pay or do we split?
You
Pago yo hoy. Tú pagas mañana.
I'll pay today. You pay tomorrow.
ChatPal
Trato hecho. ¿Pagas con tarjeta?
Deal. Are you paying by card?
You
Sí. Ya viene el mesero.
Yes. The waiter is coming.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to pay" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to pay" in Spanish
How do I say I pay?
Yo pago.
Pay by card?
Pagar con tarjeta.
Why pagué with u?
So the g stays hard before e: yo pagué.
How do you pronounce pago?
PAH-goh, hard g as in go.
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