Learn Hardcore Italian: Può portarmi il conto, per favore? Grazie mille. - Could you bring me the bill, please? Thank you very much.

Può is formal “you” (addressing someone as Lei). In restaurants you typically address staff formally, so Può portarmi… is perfect. Use the informal puoi (second person singular) only with someone you know well or in a very casual setting: Puoi portarmi il conto?

Why is the verb in the third person (Può) if I’m talking to “you”?

Italian uses the third-person singular to show respect to a single person addressed as Lei (formal “you”). So Lei può = “you can (formal).” The pronoun Lei is often omitted, but it’s understood.

What does portarmi mean, and where can I put mi?

Portarmi = “to bring to me” (portare + mi). With modal verbs like potere, the object pronoun can go:

Attached to the infinitive: Può portarmi il conto?
Before the conjugated verb: Mi può portare il conto? Both are equally correct and natural.

Could I just say Il conto, per favore?

Yes—very common and perfectly polite in context. Variants:

Il conto, per favore.
Il conto, grazie.
Per favore, il conto.

Is there an even more polite way than Può…?

Yes, use the conditional:

Potrebbe portarmi il conto? (Could you bring me the bill?)
Mi porterebbe il conto, per favore? These sound extra courteous.

Is Mi porti il conto, per favore? correct?

Yes. That’s the formal imperative (the “Lei” imperative uses the present subjunctive: porti). It’s a very common, polite request in service contexts.

How do I say “Can you bring us the bill?”

Use ci (“to us”):

Ci può portare il conto, per favore?
Potrebbe portarci il conto, per favore? You can also say: Il conto per favore. (context already implies it’s for your table).

Can I say Posso avere il conto? or Possiamo avere il conto?

Yes, both are common:

Posso avere il conto? (May I have the bill?)
Possiamo avere il conto? (May we have the bill?) They’re neutral and polite with the right tone.

Do I need the article il in il conto?

Yes. You’re asking for a specific, known bill, so use the definite article: il conto. Dropping it sounds odd here.

Is the comma before per favore necessary?

It’s recommended in writing because per favore is a parenthetical courtesy phrase: …il conto, per favore? In speech, it reflects a natural pause. Without the comma you’ll still be understood.

How do I pronounce the tricky parts?

Può: pwoh
conto: KON-toh
per favore: pehr fah-VOH-reh
Grazie mille: GRAHT-see-eh MEEL-leh Tip: Don’t say “GRAH-zee”—make it three syllables: gra-zi-e.

What’s the deal with the accent in può? Is puo’ okay?

Write può with a grave accent on the o. Puo’ (with an apostrophe) is a common typo and is considered wrong in standard Italian.

Is per favore the only way to say “please”?

Other very common options:

Per piacere
Per cortesia All are polite and interchangeable in this context.

Is Grazie mille natural here? Any alternatives?

Very natural. Alternatives:

Molte grazie
Grazie tante (can sound sarcastic in some contexts)
Formal: La ringrazio. Saying thanks in advance like this is normal politeness.

What’s the difference between conto, scontrino, and ricevuta?

Il conto: the bill you ask for at a restaurant to know what to pay.
Lo scontrino: the fiscal receipt you get after paying.
La ricevuta: a receipt/invoice (often more formal or itemized).

Any other idiomatic ways to ask for the bill?

Ci fa il conto, per favore? (Will you make the bill for us?)
Quando ha un attimo, il conto. (When you have a moment, the bill.)
Vorrei il conto, per favore. (I’d like the bill, please.)

Cultural note: do I need to tip after asking for the bill?

Tipping isn’t obligatory in Italy. Service might be included (servizio), and coperto (cover charge) is common. If you wish, you can round up or leave small change for good service, preferably in cash.