Rounds of drinks, invitations and splitting the bill in Spanish

Key rules

• Rounds: Once you accept a drink, stay until your turn and pay when it comes to you.
• Invitar: Refuse a offer to pay once or twice, then accept and repay it next time.
• Bill: Among friends the bill is split equally unless someone says they had little.
• Quedamos: Without a day and time, a quedamos is only politeness.

Rounds: join in or say so early

In a group at a bar, one person buys a round (una ronda) for everyone. Later, others take turns, so everyone pays about the same by the end of the night. Often one person orders and pays for the whole round. Some groups keep a common kitty (bote) instead.

Once you accept a drink, you are in the system. Do not leave before your turn, and pay for the next round if it falls to you. Leaving without buying your round is seen as rude.

Rounds are most common among friends and colleagues in bars. They are less common in restaurants.

Invitar: when someone offers to pay

"Invito yo" means the speaker is paying. It is on them.

• To accept: "Gracias, la próxima invito yo" or "Pues la siguiente es mía".
• To push back: "No, no, invito yo". A token refusal is normal and polite.
• After the second insistence, accept. Repay the favour another time, usually the next round or meal.

A loud fight over the bill is a familiar ritual. The person who reaches the bar or the waiter first usually wins.

Splitting the bill

Among friends the bill is usually split equally, "a escote" or "a partes iguales", whatever each person ate. The staff often bring one bill. One person pays and collects the rest, often by Bizum, an instant mobile payment.

Separate bills ("cuentas separadas") are less common in traditional restaurants, but fine, especially in larger or tourist places. In a bar, ask "cobrar por separado" as you order.

If you did not drink or ate much, say so and pay less. At business meals and special occasions, one person often pays for all.

Quedamos: a plan or just politeness

"Quedamos" means a plan to meet up, but without a day and time it is a weak intention. "A ver si quedamos" (let's try to meet sometime) and "nos vemos" (see you) are often just polite.

A real plan has a time, a place and a confirmation: "Quedamos el sábado a las 8 en la plaza". To turn a vague line into a plan, propose a date. A "quedamos" with a time is binding in practice, though the exact minute may be relaxed.

Accepting and declining invitations

To accept, say:

• "Vale, ¿a qué hora?"
• "Perfecto, allí estaré."
• "Encantado" (or "Encantada").

To decline, give a short reason and thanks: "Muchas gracias, pero no puedo, tengo un compromiso" or "Otro día sin falta". Suggest another time to show interest: "¿Y si quedamos la semana que viene?" A flat no without a reason sounds cold.

Hosts often insist once or twice. A firm second refusal is accepted. Remember that accepting a drink means joining the round system.