SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/es-cuanto-le-debo

At the register you want to ask, 'How much do I owe you?' Which phrase is it?

¿Cuánto le debo? means 'How much do I owe you?'

Start playing free

  1. ¿Cuánto le debo? ✔
  2. ¿Cuánto tiempo falta?
  3. ¿Cuándo le pago?

Why: Debo is the I form of deber, to owe. It is a polite way to ask a shopkeeper or driver for the total. ¿Cuánto tiempo falta? means 'How much longer?'

Huh, didn't know that: Deber also means 'should', as in 'Debe tomar un taxi'.

The dad joke
How does a duck buy lipstick? She just puts it on her bill.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: ¿Cuánto le debo?. Debo is the I form of deber, to owe. It is a polite way to ask a shopkeeper or driver for the total. ¿Cuánto tiempo falta? means 'How much longer?'

  1. FSI Spanish Basic Course, Volume 1 Student Text (US government, public domain) fsi-language-courses-media.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/languages/Spanish/Basic/Volume%201/Fsi-SpanishBasicCourse-Volume1-StudentText.pdf
    José, pregúntele al chofer que cuánto le debe. ... José: ¿Cuánto le debo?
    Checked 2026-10-10.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

LanguagesHow do you ask the price: 'How much does it cost?'LanguagesHow do you ask 'Is it very expensive?' in Spanish?LanguagesHow do you ask 'How much is the tip?' in Spanish?

That's stuff everyone should know.