6 Key Expressions for Handling the Bill in Italian

1. Faccio io 

I’ll get it (lit. “I’ll do it”)

This is a very natural thing to say when the bill arrives and you’re ready to pay for everyone at the table. But be warned: this can quickly spiral into a friendly little fight, with everyone insisting on paying their share (or the whole bill) and racing to get their card to the POS machine first. Classic!

If someone says faccio io, a simple way to respond is grazie mille, allora la prossima volta offro io (Thanks so much, then next time it’s on me).

2. Offro io 

It’s on me, my treat (lit. “I offer”) 

It’s similar to Faccio io, but Offro io is more about treating someone than simply offering to pay. 

And you don’t need to wait for the bill to make the announcement. In fact, Stasera offro io (Tonight is on me) is something we often say right at the start, before anyone has even opened the menu.

3. Tocca a me 

It’s my turn 

If someone else got the bill the last time and now it’s your chance to return the favour, this is a great phrase to use. 

If the others try to fight you on it (and they probably will — see #1), a little hand wave and a friendly but firm non se ne parla, tocca a me (absolutely not, it’s my turn) should do the trick.

4. Dividiamo? 

Shall we split the bill? (lit. “Do we split?”)

If nobody offers to pay for everyone, this is a very casual way to suggest splitting the costs in Italian. Short and sweet.

However, it can be a little vague, especially if you’re not that close with the people at the table. When you say dividiamo?, what exactly are you suggesting? Splitting everything equally between everyone, regardless of what they ordered? Or does everyone pay for what they actually ate? This phrase alone doesn’t really tell you, but the next couple of expressions will help you be more specific.

Also, consider that restaurants aren’t always thrilled about splitting bills, especially on a busy night or with a big group; it’s just a scocciatura (hassle) for them. To ask, you can say Possiamo dividere il conto per [number], per favore? (Can we split the bill [number] ways, please?) or Possiamo fare conti separati, per favore? (Can we get separate bills, please?).

5. Facciamo alla romana?

Shall we go Dutch? (lit. “Shall we do it the Roman way?”)

This is the phrase to use when you want to split the bill evenly, so everyone pays the same, no matter who ordered the grigliata (grilled meat) and who just had an insalata (salad). It’s just the easiest way to split the bill and saves everyone from pulling out their phones and doing math at the table.

No one knows exactly why it’s called “the Roman way” though. One popular theory dates back to medieval Rome, when trattorias were full of pilgrims visiting the city and sitting together at large tables. To keep things simple, the bill was divided equally among everyone from the start. Simple and practical!

6. Facciamo che ognuno paga per sé?

How about everyone pays for themselves? (lit. “Shall we make it so everyone pays for themselves?”)

This way of splitting the bill is jokingly called alla genovese (Genoa style), playing on the stereotype that people from Genoa have il braccino corto (literally, “short arm,” meaning they are tight with money). Sorry Genoese friends!

As mentioned, getting separate bills is not always practical, so an easier option is for one person to pay for everything, and then everyone pays them back. You could suggest it like this: Pago tutto io e poi ognuno mi dà la sua parte, ok? (I’ll pay for everything, and then everyone gives me their share, okay?).