Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando viajo al extranjero.

I prefer to pay with a credit card when I travel abroad.

Breakdown of Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando viajo al extranjero.

• yo: I
• con: with
• cuando: when
• al: to the
• de: of
• viajar: to travel
• preferir: to prefer
• extranjero: foreign
• pagar: to pay
• la tarjeta: the card
• el crédito: the credit

Questions & Answers about Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando viajo al extranjero.

Why is it “prefiero pagar” and not something like “me prefiero pagar” or “prefiero a pagar”?

In Spanish, “preferir” works like “want” or “like” with another verb:

• prefiero + infinitive → prefiero pagar = I prefer to pay

You do not use a reflexive pronoun (me) here, because “preferir” in this meaning is not reflexive.

You also don’t use “a” before the infinitive:

• ✅ prefiero pagar
• ❌ prefiero a pagar

So the basic pattern is:
(yo) prefiero + infinitive → (I) prefer + to + verb

Why is the second verb in the infinitive (pagar) and not something like “pago”?

After verbs of liking/wanting such as querer, preferir, poder, necesitar, Spanish normally uses the infinitive of the second verb:

• Prefiero pagar = I prefer to pay
• Quiero pagar = I want to pay
• Puedo pagar = I can pay

You only conjugate the first verb (prefiero), and the second verb stays in the infinitive (pagar). Using “pago” would break the structure:

• ❌ Prefiero pago con tarjeta…
• ✅ Prefiero pagar con tarjeta…

Why is it “pagar con tarjeta de crédito” and not “pagar por tarjeta” or “pagar en tarjeta”?

In Spanish, to express the means of payment, the usual preposition is con:

• pagar con tarjeta (de crédito) = to pay by card
• pagar con efectivo = to pay in cash
• pagar con el móvil = to pay with your phone

Using por or en here sounds incorrect or at least very unnatural:

• ❌ pagar por tarjeta
• ❌ pagar en tarjeta

So you should remember the chunk “pagar con tarjeta”.

Why is there no article before “tarjeta de crédito”? Could I say “con la tarjeta de crédito”?

Both are possible, but they mean slightly different things:

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito.
  → General: I prefer paying by credit card (as a method).

• Prefiero pagar con la tarjeta de crédito.
  → More specific: I prefer paying with *the credit card* (a particular card you and the listener know about).

In your sentence, we’re talking about a method of payment in general, so no article is the most natural choice.

Is there any difference between “tarjeta de crédito” and “tarjeta de débito” in Spanish?

Yes, just like in English:

• tarjeta de crédito = credit card
• tarjeta de débito = debit card

The structure “tarjeta de + type” is the same:

• tarjeta de crédito
• tarjeta de débito
• tarjeta de transporte (travel card)
• tarjeta de estudiante (student card)

You could change the original sentence to:

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de débito cuando viajo al extranjero.
  → I prefer to pay by debit card when I travel abroad.

Why is it “cuando viajo” and not “cuando viaje”? When do I use indicative vs subjunctive after cuando?

With cuando, Spanish uses either indicative or subjunctive depending on the meaning:

1. Habitual / general fact → Indicative

   • Cuando viajo al extranjero, prefiero pagar con tarjeta.
     → Whenever I travel abroad (habitually), I prefer to pay by card.
     (That’s our sentence: a general habit.)

2. Specific future event (not yet realized) → Subjunctive

   • Cuando viaje al extranjero, pagaré con tarjeta.
     → When I travel abroad (next time / in the future), I will pay by card.

So in your sentence, it’s about a habit, so indicative (viajo) is correct.

What does “al extranjero” literally mean, and why not “en el extranjero”?

• al extranjero = a + el extranjero → to abroad / to a foreign country
• en el extranjero = in/while in another country

So:

• cuando viajo al extranjero
  → when I travel abroad (focus on the movement)

• cuando estoy en el extranjero
  → when I am abroad (focus on being there)

Both are correct, but they say slightly different things:

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando viajo al extranjero.
  → I’m talking about my habit when I travel to foreign countries.

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando estoy en el extranjero.
  → I’m talking about my habit while I’m there.

What is “extranjero” grammatically? Is it a noun or an adjective here?

extranjero can be both:

1. Adjective: foreign

   • un país extranjero = a foreign country
   • una persona extranjera = a foreign person

2. Noun: abroad / foreign country or foreigner

   • viajar al extranjero = to travel abroad
   • un extranjero = a foreigner

In your sentence, “el extranjero” is a noun meaning abroad / foreign countries in general.

Why is there no subject pronoun “yo”? Could I say “Yo prefiero pagar…”?

Spanish normally drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the subject:

• prefiero → clearly “I prefer” (yo)
• prefieres → you prefer (tú)
• prefiere → he/she/it prefers (él/ella)

So:

• Prefiero pagar… → perfectly natural and most common
• Yo prefiero pagar… → also correct, but more emphatic, like:
  • As for me, I prefer to pay…

Use “yo” only when you want to stress the subject (contrast, emphasis, etc.).

Can I change the word order and start with “cuando viajo al extranjero”?

Yes. Spanish is quite flexible with word order, especially with clauses like cuando…:

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito cuando viajo al extranjero.
• Cuando viajo al extranjero, prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito.

Both are natural. Putting “cuando viajo al extranjero” at the beginning just gives that context first, but the meaning is the same.

Could I say something like “cuando estoy viajando al extranjero” instead of “cuando viajo al extranjero”?

You could say “cuando estoy viajando al extranjero”, but it’s not usual in this context.

Spanish uses the present simple much more than English does, especially for:

• habits
• general truths
• ongoing actions when the focus is not on the process

So:

• cuando viajo al extranjero often covers both:
  • when I travel abroad
  • when I am traveling abroad

The progressive (estar + gerundio → estoy viajando) is used when you really want to highlight the action in progress:

• Ahora mismo estoy viajando al extranjero.
  → Right now I am traveling abroad.

For a general habit, stick with “cuando viajo al extranjero”.

Is there a difference between “prefiero pagar…” and something like “me gusta más pagar…” here?

They’re close in meaning but not identical:

• Prefiero pagar con tarjeta de crédito…
  → I prefer to pay by credit card (a direct, clear preference).

• Me gusta más pagar con tarjeta de crédito…
  → I like more paying by credit card / I like paying by credit card better.

In most everyday contexts, both can be used to express what you choose or like more, but:

• “prefiero” sounds a bit more decisive/choice-oriented.
• “me gusta más” is slightly more about personal liking.