"Can we pay?" in a restaurant

In the US you would ask for the "check". In the UK you would not use this word. "Can we get the bill please" "Can we pay" "Can we settle up please" All would be acceptable in the UK.

Yes I've said it. Here in the UK, I'd never say 'can we get the cheque' because they aren't used.

It’s not outrageous, but I’ve never said it like that nor have I ever heard anyone say it

“Could we get the check please?” Is probably the way I would ask if it was taking a while for them to bring it.

Of course you can say it but as you stated it is rather awkward and abrupt. I have never heard it said that way. “Can we have the check, please?” is more common and what I would say.

In Australia, you often go to the register/counter/podium to pay, rather than having the bill brought to you. They usually just know you're there to pay and you don't need to say anything but if not, you'd just say "I'd like to pay, please". FYI, adding "please" to a request is always a good idea. Much harder to sound rude if you've used "please"!

That is a very concise way to put it, but still valid

That sounds aggressive to my ear. I wouldn’t use it unless you’re trying to make the point that it’s been a long time and you should have gotten the check by now.

I’d like to pay, please.

I usually say “can we have the bill please?”

You could say "Can I pay this, please?" if you've already got the bill, and you're in a hurry so you go to the bar to pay instead of waiting for the server to come back. Or maybe you have the bill but nobody comes to take payment for ages, so you have to flag someone down. It doesn't make sense if you don't have the bill yet, or if someone's come to the table with the express purpose of getting you to pay the bill.

I would only ever say can we pay if the service had been extremely bad, or long. Or if I have already politely asked for the bill and they didn’t bring it It would be my passive indication that I am not happy

In the u.s. we usually say "can I get the check?" But REALLY in the u.s. the waiter will usually ask "are you ready for the check?"

It is more common to say, "Check, please."

Sure, but it’s kinda awkward. It’s just more polite to say “can we have the cheque please?”

Almost always in the US it will go something like: Waiter: “Can I get you anything else?” Customer: “No, just the check, please.” Waiter: “Sure, I’ll be right back with that.” Or something like that. In a US restaurant the waiters will stop by every 10 minutes or so to ask if you’re ok or refill drinks or whatnot. In a family restaurant or a diner they may even just leave the bill on the table to pay without prompting. (This is it NOT considered rude, but rather efficient service in the US.) If they don’t actually ask you the above question and didn’t give you the check, you can just ask, “Could I get the check please?”

In The UK that would sound impatient and will come across as impolite. "Can we pay please" is better but it's more usual to say "We'd like to pay please" or similar. You would only omit the"please" from this sort of phrase if you were angry with them for some reason.

“Can we pay” is awkward in the US. It makes perfect sense but implies the server has screwed up. Common phrases include “the check, please”

US. "Can we pay" is awkward. Native speakers USEnglish dont speak like that. "Check?" "Check please." "Check when you get a chance." "Check and a box" (if leftovers are going home, where-and-when appropriate)

You could say it in the Uk but probably would be more like ‘excuse me, sorry, can we pay please, thank you’ 

It wouldn't be the normal thing to say, but nobody would be confused. It's just not what's expected.

It's a little abrupt. "We'd like to pay now please," conveys the same information in a softer way.

Sounds rude

British native speaker, deep into middle age. I always say "Can I settle up please?", or "May I settle up?". Or if I've been asked if I would like any else, I'll say "No, just the bill please".

It is awkward to say, "can we pay?" They will understand you, but there are better ways to say it.

You can, but it sounds a little rude. "Can I get the bill/tab" would be how I say it. If I hear someone say "can I pay?", it makes it sound like they're saying I haven't let them pay, like they're making a subtle jab at the poor or slow service. It sounds like something you'd say with attitude. *American English

Don’t say it that way, unless you want them to think that you’re pissed off. By using the verb “can“ you’re implying that you want to know is it even possible for you to pay. The implication is that they’re doing such a bad job bringing you the check that you are sarcastically asking them if it’s even possible to pay them. So please don’t say it this way. Other comments offer very normal ways to ask for the check.

The only valid way to ask for the bill in the UK is to catch the waiter's eye and do the sign language thing of pretending to sign a cheque.

It may have sounded slightly awkward or unusual to me at some point, but after living in non-English speaking places, it sounds perfectly normal to me without any awkwardness or abruptness.

Smile and keep it short: “Check, please?” Also fine to lift your hand to get the waiter’s attention and then mime a signature. It looks like: your first three fingers together and jiggle your hand a bit.

I sometimes say “can I give you money now” because I think I’m charming despite everything I say and do lol There are plenty of other solid, natural options in this thread!

Can we pay can sound irritable like you've been waiting to pay and the staff hasn't let you. You can just say "I'm ready to pay" or "can I get the check please?" With a pleasant tone of voice.

"Can we pay?" is not incorrect, but it is very blunt and lacking politeness. It would be more polite to ask, "May we please have the bill?" or "May we please settle the bill?" or "We're ready to settle up". (Although this might be Canadian-specific) Personally, I often say " "May we please have the bill, when you have a moment?" This means I'm finished, but I'm not in any rush and I know that the waiter is busy.

This phrase might be used, but not to ask for the bill. I might say something like Can we pay now, please? If I already have the bill but the point of sale machine hasn't been brought over. Can we pay could also be a way of discussing who will pay, but it's incredibly passive, typically someone would say something like We'll get it. I could see a kid with a job be excited to use their money saying Can I pay now to their parents.

It sounds weird because it sounds like you’re asking permission to do something you’re required to do. “We’re ready to pay” or “Can we get the bill?” sound more natural

I say “can I pay?” all the time and I don’t think anyone’s ever taken it badly.

“We’re ready for the check when you get a chance” CAN WE PAY sounds rude

You should not have to ask to pay. If you have been waiting a long time, either the server has failed or you have misunderstood the process used in the restaurant. You might ask the server "Do I pay at the table or at the counter?" If nothing else, this is a hint.

Any English person of a certain age will have had it drummed into them at school that, actually 'can' is incorrect in all these example sentences, and that it should, correctly, be 'may'.