"Nos trae..." - is it polite?

Question

I've been listening to Coffee Break Spanish Podcast, and in one of the lessons the host uses Nos trae la carta, por favor when addressing a waiter. But is that really correct? The formal imperative of traer is traiga, isn't it?

Answer 1

Yes, it's polite. I'm not sure the intonation they used saying it, but based on how it's written, it seems like a question (even though it's not a "question" really, IYKWIM. The waiter's not going to say "No", haha).

¿Nos trae la cuenta/carta, por favor? - Will you bring us the bill/menu, please?

Here, "trae" is in the usted form so, it's pretty dern formal.

"Carta" is the nenu, not the bill. - DualG, Jul 23, 2012

Sorry. I had a dodo moment. I'll change it. Thanks. *menu - Goldie_Miel, Jul 23, 2012

You mean, we use Present Simple form here? In English literally "Do you bring us the menu?" - shaoshan, Jul 24, 2012

You can think of it that way. But also keep in mind that the Spanish present can be interpreted/understood as future, present, and progressive, depending on context. - Goldie_Miel, Jul 24, 2012

I.e. "(Yo) voy" - I'm coming; Te ayudo - I will help you // I help you (when you need it) // I'm helping you (so, you're not alone in this). - Goldie_Miel, Jul 24, 2012

You could interpret the question also as "(Could) you bring us the menu?" (present, I guess). If the question were reversed (waiter to clients), it'd be: ¿Les traigo la carta? / "(Shall) I bring you the menu?" - Goldie_Miel, Jul 24, 2012

Answer 2

Hello,

It is correct and it is polite... In this case I take it that "la carta" is referring to the bill ? (depending on what type of Spanish) but he says "bring us the bill please"

Traiga would be used more for a command like.

For example : traigalo! --> BRING IT ! ( like demanding)

Hope I helped.

Yep. - Goldie_Miel, Jul 23, 2012

Answer 3

In spanish, like in english, the most polite way to ask something is with the indirect form, the one that can be answered with a "yes I.../ no I..." -Could you bring us the menu? -Podría traernos la carta?

-Would you be so kind to bring us the menu? -Sería tan amable de traernos el menu?

"Nos trae la carta, por favor" is standard if you are in a restaurant or in a bar.

We like polite people, caballeros!

Answer 4

It is correct and it is polite... In this case I take it that "la carta" is referring to the bill ? (depending on what type of Spanish) but he says "bring us the bill please"

No, "la carta" is the menu, not the bill.