The Present Tense of pagar is used to describe actions happening right now or habitual actions, for example: Pago la cuenta del restaurante. (I pay the restaurant bill.)

Pagar is a regular -ar verb, so its conjugations in the present tense follow the typical pattern for this verb type.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Pagar (to pay) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):

Pagar generally means to pay or settle a debt, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To pay money: This is the most common meaning, referring to giving money in exchange for goods or services. For example, Yo pago la cuenta del restaurante. (I pay the restaurant bill.)

To suffer consequences: In a figurative sense, it can mean to face the negative results of an action. For example, Él paga por sus errores. (He pays for his mistakes.)

To be worth it (colloquial): In some contexts, it can express that something is worthwhile or valuable. For example, Vale la pena, paga verlo. (It’s worth it, it pays to see it.)

To settle a score (slang): In informal speech, it can mean to get revenge or retaliate against someone. For example, Te la pago, desgraciado. (I’ll get you back, you jerk.)

To have sex (vulgar): In very crude slang, it can refer to having sexual intercourse, often in a demeaning way. For example, Pago por coger. (I pay to have sex.)

Examples

Examples of Pagar in the Present Tense

Yo pago la cuenta en el restaurante. (I pay the bill at the restaurant.)

¿Cuánto pagas por el alquiler cada mes? (How much do you pay for rent each month?)

Mi hermana paga las facturas en línea. (My sister pays the bills online.)

Nosotros pagamos el recibo de la luz a tiempo. (We pay the electricity bill on time.)

Ellos pagan con tarjeta de crédito en la tienda. (They pay with a credit card at the store.)

¿Pagas en efectivo o con tarjeta? (Do you pay in cash or with a card?)

Mi jefe paga bien por el trabajo que hago. (My boss pays well for the work I do.)

Pagamos la matrícula de la universidad antes de las clases. (We pay the university tuition before classes.)

Los turistas pagan la propina en el restaurante. (The tourists pay the tip at the restaurant.)

¿Cuánto paga tu compañía por el seguro médico? (How much does your company pay for health insurance?)

Yo pago mis deudas a tiempo para mantener un buen crédito. (I pay my debts on time to maintain good credit.)

Ellos pagan el alquiler con un cheque cada mes. (They pay the rent with a check every month.)

¿Pagas la suscripción anual o mensual? (Do you pay the annual or monthly subscription?)

Nosotros pagamos el impuesto sobre la renta en abril. (We pay income tax in April.)

Mi amigo paga demasiado por su teléfono celular. (My friend pays too much for his cell phone.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Pagar (to pay) in the Present Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.