Here Is the Check in Spanish- Duolingo | La Cuenta Vs Cheque

In restaurants, Spanish uses “la cuenta”; “cheque” is a bank check, so choose the word that fits the moment.

You open Duolingo, you hit a food unit, and suddenly “check” shows up. In English, that one word handles a pile of ideas: a restaurant bill, a bank slip, a tick mark, a quick look, even a security check. Spanish splits those ideas into different words. Once you map each meaning, the Duolingo sentences stop feeling random.

This page gives you the clean translations for “Here is the check,” plus the patterns Duolingo likes to test. You’ll also get a few short scripts you can reuse when you’re paying at a restaurant, splitting a bill, or talking about a bank check.

What “Check” Means In Spanish When You’re Paying

In a restaurant, “the check” is almost always la cuenta. If the server is handing it to you, the natural line is Aquí tiene la cuenta. If the check is being pointed out on the table, you’ll also hear Aquí está la cuenta.

Those two starters feel close in English, but Spanish is picky about the verb:

• Aquí tiene… uses tener in a “here you go” sense. It’s a handoff.
• Aquí está… uses estar for location. It’s “it’s right here.”

Duolingo often mixes both because it’s drilling two skills at once: restaurant vocabulary and the difference between ser and estar, plus common handoff phrases.

Two Solid Translations Of “Here Is The Check”

If you want one line that works in most restaurant scenes, use:

• Aquí tiene la cuenta. (server to customer)
• Aquí está la cuenta. (pointing to the bill)

When you’re the one asking, keep it short:

• La cuenta, por favor.
• ¿Me trae la cuenta, por favor?

Here Is the Check in Spanish- Duolingo: What It’s Testing

Duolingo isn’t just teaching a single phrase. It’s testing whether you can match the English “check” to the right Spanish word and place the pieces in a clean sentence.

Why Duolingo Uses “Cuenta” For A Restaurant Check

In Spanish, cuenta means “bill” in the sense of a tab you owe. That includes a meal, a hotel stay, or a bar tab. If you want to verify the dictionary meaning, the entry for cuenta (RAE) lays out its uses across contexts.

In short: if you’re paying for food, think cuenta, not cheque.

When “Cheque” Is The Right Word

Cheque is the paper you write from a bank account. It’s not what a server brings after dessert. If you want the straight definition, see the RAE entry for cheque.

So, “Here is the check” can land in two different Spanish sentences depending on the scene:

• Restaurant: Aquí tiene la cuenta.
• Banking: Aquí tiene el cheque.

What About “Check” As A Verb

English loves “check” as an action: check the time, check the door, check your work. Spanish swaps in verbs like revisar, comprobar, or ver, depending on what you’re doing. Duolingo will often steer beginners toward revisar for “to check” in the sense of “to look over.”

If you’ve felt stuck making your own sentences, Duolingo’s note on sentence building helps you spot the patterns it repeats across units. See how to make sentences in a new language for a clear breakdown of word order and common building blocks.

Quick Patterns Duolingo Rewards In This Phrase

Duolingo keeps your sentences tight. It rewards clean subject choices, clear object placement, and the right little words. Here are the patterns that show up around “the check” in Spanish lessons.

Pattern 1: “Aquí tiene + Noun” For Handing Something Over

This is the one to memorize for restaurants. It also works for passing a menu, a receipt, or a passport. It can sound formal or neutral based on the pronoun you choose:

• Aquí tienes la cuenta. (to one person you speak to as tú)
• Aquí tiene la cuenta. (to one person you speak to as usted)
• Aquí tienen la cuenta. (to a group)

If commands trip you up, Duolingo’s guide to Spanish commands helps explain why trae and traiga look like cousins but behave differently. See making commands in Spanish for a clear, beginner-friendly walk-through.

Pattern 2: “¿Me trae…?” For Asking The Server

Spanish uses a little pronoun package with verbs like traer (to bring). Me means “to me.” So ¿Me trae la cuenta? is “Will you bring me the bill?”

You can swap the object and keep the structure:

• ¿Me trae el agua?
• ¿Me trae el menú?
• ¿Me trae la cuenta?

Pattern 3: “Pagar” + “La cuenta”

Duolingo likes pairing verbs with the restaurant noun set. You’ll see lines like Quiero pagar la cuenta and Necesito pagar. These help you practice verb forms while still keeping the scene clear.

Pattern 4: Saying Who Gets The Bill

Duolingo also likes tiny add-ons that change meaning without changing the base sentence. With restaurant bills, you’ll often name who pays. Use para to mark the recipient, or de to mark who the bill belongs to.

• La cuenta es para Ana. (Ana is paying)
• La cuenta es de la mesa cuatro. (it belongs to table four)
• La cuenta es para los tres. (one bill for the three of us)

These lines show up in lessons because they train agreement and number. Para los tres keeps the noun singular (la cuenta) while the group marker changes. It’s a small twist that catches learners who try to pluralize the bill.

Pronunciation Notes That Help You Hear It In Real Life

Cuenta starts with a soft “kwen-” sound, and the stress lands on cuen. In fast speech, la cuenta can sound like one chunk: “lakwenta.” Cheque is “CHEH-keh” in most regions, with two clear syllables. If you say cheque at a restaurant, the staff may still get your point, but it can sound like you mean a bank instrument.

Fast Way To Choose The Right Spanish Word

Use this tiny decision: if the “check” is a slip you sign at a table, it’s la cuenta. If it’s a bank paper you write, it’s el cheque. If it’s an action, ask what you’re doing: looking over (revisar), confirming (comprobar), or watching (ver). Then build one short sentence and say it out loud once. That one extra beat helps the right word stick, and it keeps you from translating on autopilot.

Common “Check” Meanings And The Spanish Word To Use

Before you lock in one translation, decide which “check” you mean. This quick map saves you from the classic mix-up where a learner says cheque at a restaurant and gets a puzzled look.

If you’re unsure, read the words around it. Paying, a waiter, or a table points to la cuenta. Banks, deposits, or writing payment points to el cheque. In doubt, say la cuenta and keep going.

English “Check” Meaning	Spanish Word Or Phrase	Typical Scene
Restaurant bill	la cuenta	Paying after a meal
Bank check	el cheque	Paying by check, issuing payment
Checkmark	una marca de verificación	Forms, lists, settings
To check (look over)	revisar	Homework, a document, a bag
To check (confirm)	comprobar	Verifying facts, numbers
To check in (arrive and register)	hacer el check-in / registrarse	Hotels, flights
Security check	un control de seguridad	Airports, venues
Check the time	mirar la hora	Daily talk

Small Details That Stop Common Mistakes

These details are where learners get snagged. Fix them once and you’ll feel steadier in both lessons and real conversations.

Gender: It’s “La Cuenta,” Not “El Cuenta”

Cuenta is feminine, so it takes la. If you slip and say el cuenta, it sounds off right away. Your ear will catch it after a bit of practice.

Word Choice: “Factura” Isn’t The Same In Daily Restaurant Talk

You may also see factura, which often lines up with “invoice” or a formal receipt. In many places, you can ask for la factura if you need a formal document for expenses. For most meals, stick with la cuenta.

“Aquí Está” Vs “Aquí Es”

Aquí es la cuenta is not the usual line. When you mean “it’s here,” estar is the normal pick: Aquí está la cuenta. When you mean “here you go,” tener works: Aquí tiene la cuenta.

Restaurant Mini Scripts You Can Reuse Right Away

Duolingo teaches in bite-size sentences. Real meals are a back-and-forth. These short scripts keep your Spanish clean without turning the moment into a grammar test.

Server Brings The Bill

Mesero: Aquí tiene la cuenta.
Tú: Gracias.

Asking For The Bill

Tú: La cuenta, por favor.
Mesero: Claro.

Paying By Card

Tú: ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?
Mesero: Sí.

Splitting The Bill

Tú: ¿Podemos pagar por separado?
Mesero: Sí, sin problema.

What You Want To Say	Spanish Line	Notes
“Here is the bill.”	Aquí tiene la cuenta.	Best as a server line
“The bill, please.”	La cuenta, por favor.	Short and polite
“Can we pay by card?”	¿Podemos pagar con tarjeta?	Works for a group
“Separate checks.”	¿Podemos pagar por separado?	Common restaurant request
“Is service included?”	¿El servicio está incluido?	Useful before tipping
“Can you bring the receipt?”	¿Me trae el recibo, por favor?	Receipt after payment

Practice That Feels Like Duolingo, Not Homework

Pick one pattern and run it in your head during idle moments. Swap only the noun. That keeps the structure stable while your vocabulary grows.

Try a quick drill: say Aquí tiene…, then swap the noun (la cuenta, el menú, el recibo). Next, switch to ¿Me trae…? with the same nouns. End with Quiero pagar… or Podemos pagar….

Duolingo keeps rewarding this style of practice: one stable sentence frame, one small swap, then repeat. It feels simple, and it gets results inside the app and outside it.

One Last Check Before You Speak

When “check” pops up, pause for one beat and ask: bill at a table, or bank paper? If it’s food, say cuenta. If it’s banking, say cheque. That’s it. Once that split is locked in, Duolingo’s “check” questions feel fair, and your restaurant Spanish sounds natural.