Spanish · La cuenta / propina
You ask about tipping: what to say in Spanish
You ask about the tip.
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How it's done. Tips (propina) in Spain are not obligatory; you leave small change or round up; service is already included in the price.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Disculpe, ¿hay que dejar propina?
Dees-KOOL-peh, igh keh deh-KHAHR proh-PEE-nuh?
Excuse me, do you have to leave a tip?
THEY SAY
No es obligatorio. Si quiere, deje algo.Noh es oh-blee-guh-TOH-ryoh. See KYEH-reh, DEH-kheh AHL-goh.
It's not obligatory. If you like, leave something.
They might also say:
No, el servicio ya está incluido. Es voluntario.
Noh, el sehr-BEE-syoh yah es-TAH een-kloo-EE-doh. Es boh-loon-TAH-ryoh.
No, service is already included. It's voluntary.
2
YOU FINISH
Pues quédese con el cambio.
Poo-ES KEH-deh-seh kohn el KAHM-byoh.
Then keep the change.
THEY SAY
Muchas gracias.MOO-chuhs GRAH-syuhs.
Thank you very much.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Disculpe
Dees-KOOL-peh
verb
excuse me
dejar
deh-KHAHR
verb
to leave, to let, to stop
propina
proh-PEE-nuh
noun
tip
No
Noh
adverb
no
es
es
verb
is
obligatorio
oh-blee-guh-TOH-ryoh
adjective
compulsory
12 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
¿Qué significa esto?
Keh seeg-nee-FEE-kuh ES-toh?
What does this mean?
Similar situations
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