French · A1 · Speaking · about 5 min
Get the bill, pay your way and leave politely — all in French.
Anna is in a small café in Lyon. She has finished her coffee and croissant and needs to leave soon. In France the waiter rarely brings the bill on his own — you ask for it. A good exit: call for the bill, ask to pay by card, split it if needed, politely point out an error and decide on a tip.
MomentYou want the bill.
SayL'addition, s'il vous plaît.
WhyL'addition + s'il vous plaît: the standard, polite request.
MomentYou want to pay by card.
SayJe peux payer par carte ?
WhyJe peux + infinitive: simple question with rising intonation.
MomentYou want to split the bill.
SayOn paie séparément, s'il vous plaît.
WhyOn = nous in speech; séparément = separately.
MomentYou see a mistake.
SayJe crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
WhyJe crois que…: softens the complaint.
MomentYou ask about service.
SayLe service est compris ?
WhyCompris = included; in France service is usually included.
MomentYou leave a small tip.
SayGardez la monnaie, merci.
WhyGardez (imperative, vous) la monnaie: keep the change.
| Moment | Say | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the bill. | L'addition, s'il vous plaît. | L'addition + s'il vous plaît: the standard, polite request. |
| You want to pay by card. | Je peux payer par carte ? | Je peux + infinitive: simple question with rising intonation. |
| You want to split the bill. | On paie séparément, s'il vous plaît. | On = nous in speech; séparément = separately. |
| You see a mistake. | Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition. | Je crois que…: softens the complaint. |
| You ask about service. |
Use s'il vous plaît with staff. « Je peux + infinitif ? » is the easiest A1 question: just raise your voice at the end. « On » replaces « nous » in everyday speech. « Je crois que… » makes a correction sound polite.
Catch the waiter's eye and say « Excusez-moi ! » before « L'addition, s'il vous plaît ». Service is included (service compris); rounding up is a friendly extra, not an obligation.
Related topics: /topics/french/a1/cafe/ordering, /topics/french/a0/introductions/first-meeting. To keep going, continue the French course on MyAnya.
Ask for the bill, ask about the card, split it, flag an error politely and leave a tip.
1 / 6
You're ready to leave. How do you ask for the bill?
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
L'addition + s'il vous plaît: the standard, polite request.
Anna has finished her coffee and has a train to catch.
Je peux payer par carte ?
Je peux + infinitive: simple question with rising intonation.
She has no cash on her.
On paie séparément, s'il vous plaît.
On = nous in speech; séparément = separately.
She is with a colleague who pays for himself.
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
Je crois que…: softens the complaint.
Two croissants are on the bill, she ate one.
Le service est compris ?
Compris = included; in France service is usually included.
She wonders whether she should tip.
Gardez la monnaie, merci.
Gardez (imperative, vous) la monnaie: keep the change.
The bill is 8.50 € and she gives 10 €.
| Le service est compris ? |
| Compris = included; in France service is usually included. |
| You leave a small tip. | Gardez la monnaie, merci. | Gardez (imperative, vous) la monnaie: keep the change. |