Learn Italian: Pago il conto in contanti.

Pago il conto in contanti.

I pay the bill in cash.

Breakdown of Pago il conto in contanti.

in / made of (material)

the cash (in contanti = in cash)

Questions & Answers about Pago il conto in contanti.

Why is there no word for "for" after Pago?

In English, we often say we are paying for something. In Italian, pagare (to pay) connects directly to the item you are buying or the bill you are settling without needing a preposition. You simply say pago il conto.

Is the word contanti plural?

Yes, it is the plural form of the noun contante. While English treats "cash" as a singular concept, Italians almost always use the plural form when talking about paying with physical money.

Why do we use the preposition in for in contanti?

The phrase in contanti is a fixed expression meaning "in cash." However, it is useful to know that if you want to say you are paying "by card," the preposition changes to con (with), and you say con la carta.

Can I use conto to talk about an electricity or water bill?

No, conto is mainly used for a restaurant bill or a bank account (conto corrente). If you are talking about a household utility bill that comes in the mail, you must use the word bolletta.