French · Cafés & restaurants · Elementary

How to ask for the bill in French

In France the waiter usually won’t bring the bill until you ask: catch their eye and say “L'addition, s'il vous plaît”. To split it, say “On voudrait payer séparément”. Menu prices in France include service, so a tip is optional: a few coins if you were happy.

Try it · about two minutes

At the end of a meal with friends you ask for the bill, decide how to split it and whether to leave a tip.

Sound on: the waiter speaks French. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

Waiter
Tout se passe bien ?
Is everything all right?
You
Tout était délicieux, merci.
Everything was delicious, thank you.
Waiter
Voulez-vous voir la carte des desserts ?
Would you like to see the dessert menu?
You
Non merci, juste l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
No thanks, just the bill, please.
Waiter
Vous payez par carte ou en espèces ?
Will you pay by card or cash?
You
On voudrait payer séparément.
We’d like to pay separately.
Your friend checks the bill and spots a dessert nobody ordered.
You
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
I think there’s a mistake on the bill.
Waiter
Pardon pour ça, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
Sorry about that, I’ll sort it out right away.
You
Le service est compris ?
Is service included?
Waiter
Le service est compris, après c'est comme vous voulez.
Service is included, but it’s up to you.
You
C'est pour vous, merci. Bonne soirée.
This is for you, thanks. Have a good evening.

Key phrases

L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
On peut avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?
Could we have the bill, please?
Vous payez par carte ou en espèces ?
Will you pay by card or cash?
On voudrait payer séparément.
We’d like to pay separately.
On peut partager l'addition en quatre parts égales ?
Can we split the bill into four equal shares?
Vous pouvez faire des additions séparées, s'il vous plaît ?
Can you do separate bills, please?
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
I think there’s a mistake on the bill.
Le service est compris ?
Is service included?
Est-ce qu'on laisse un pourboire ici ?
Do people tip here?
Tout était délicieux, merci.
Everything was delicious, thank you.

Good to know in France

How paying usually goes

1
Catch the waiter’s eye and ask: the bill usually won’t come until you do.
The bill, please.
2
The waiter often brings the card machine to the table.
3
If you were happy, leave a few coins on the table or the saucer.

Service is included

Prices in French restaurants already include service (service compris). A tip is a small, optional extra for good service, not a set percentage.

Le service est compris ?

Is service included?

Splitting the bill

Many restaurants will split a bill, but say so before anyone pays. On a busy night, a small place may prefer one payment.

On voudrait payer séparément.

We’d like to pay separately.

More situations in French

All situations in French

Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.