Paying & Splitting the Bill
Use these phrases when you are ready to finish your meal, pay the bill, and sort out tips and splitting the cost with friends in a French restaurant.
Key Phrases
Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'on pourrait avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?
politeExcuse me, could we have the bill, please?
Standard polite way to ask the staff for the bill.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
neutralThe bill, please.
A shorter, very common way to ask; tone of voice keeps it polite.
Combien est-ce que ça nous fait en tout pour ce repas, s'il vous plaît ?
neutralHow much does that come to in total for this meal, please?
Useful if you want to know the total before the printed bill arrives.
Est-ce que vous acceptez les cartes bancaires ou préférez-vous qu'on paie en espèces ?
neutralDo you accept credit cards or do you prefer that we pay in cash?
Good for checking payment options, especially in smaller establishments.
Tu sais s'ils prennent la carte ou s'il faut payer en liquide ici ?
casualDo you know if they take cards or if we have to pay in cash here?
Use with friends when discussing how to pay before the server arrives.
Est-ce que le paiement sans contact passe sur votre machine, ou je dois l'insérer ?
neutralDoes contactless payment work on your machine, or do I need to insert it?
Very common nowadays to check if the card machine supports tap-to-pay.
Est-ce que ce serait possible de régler l'addition séparément, s'il vous plaît ?
neutralWould it be possible to pay the bill separately, please?
Ask the staff this before they type the amount into the card machine.
On fait moitié-moitié pour l'addition ou chacun paie ce qu'il a consommé ?
casualAre we doing fifty-fifty for the bill or is everyone paying for what they had?
Discussing the payment strategy with your friends at the table.
Laisse, je m'en occupe. C'est moi qui t'invite aujourd'hui pour te remercier de ton aide.
casualLeave it, I'll take care of it. It's my treat today to thank you for your help.
A friendly way to insist on paying the whole bill.
Excusez-moi, il me semble qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition que vous m'avez apportée.
politeExcuse me, it seems there is a mistake on the bill you brought me.
A polite and soft way to tell the staff the bill is wrong.
Je crois qu'ils ont compté un dessert supplémentaire qu'on n'a finalement pas pris.
casualI think they charged for an extra dessert that we didn't end up having.
Explaining the billing mistake to the people you are eating with.
C'est bon comme ça, vous pouvez garder la monnaie. Merci pour l'excellent service.
neutralThat's fine as it is, you can keep the change. Thank you for the excellent service.
Use this when paying with cash and you want the remaining amount to be the tip.
On devrait laisser un bon pourboire, le serveur a vraiment été très patient avec nous.
casualWe should leave a good tip, the waiter was really very patient with us.
Service is generally included in France, but leaving a tip is appreciated for good service.
Pourriez-vous me faire un reçu pour que je puisse justifier ma note de frais ?
politeCould you make me a receipt so that I can expense it?
Essential phrase if you are eating out on a business trip.