l'addition, s'il vous plaît
The English phrase 'bill please' is translated into French as l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used as a polite request to ask for the check at a restaurant. In France, rather than waiting for a server to approach your table, it is common practice to catch the server's eye and say this phrase to signal you are ready to pay.
What does it mean word for word?
The term l'addition literally means 'the addition', referring to the mathematical sum of the items you have ordered.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form l'addition, s'il vous plaît is the standard, polite way to make this request in any restaurant setting. There is an informal version, l'addition, s'il te plaît.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using la facture to ask for your restaurant bill. While la facture can mean 'the bill' or 'the invoice' in English, in French it is typically reserved for commercial invoices or utility bills rather than dining.
Did you know?
- Unlike in the US, where the server often brings the bill without being asked, a French server will rarely bring l'addition until you explicitly request it, as doing so prematurely can be seen as rushing the guest.
- The word Garçon, used to call a waiter when asking for l'addition, literally means 'boy'. In modern France, calling a waiter this can be seen as old-fashioned or even condescending depending on the tone.
- The word vous in s'il vous plaît has cognates in other languages, such as voi in Italian and вы (vy) in Russian.
Examples in context
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît.Give me the bill, please.This sentence is useful for requesting the bill directly.Tatoeba #3257954 by nimfeo, translation #21103 by CK
- Garçon, l'addition, s'il vous plaît.Waiter, the bill please.This sentence shows how to use the word 'Garçon' to get a waiter's attention when asking for the bill.Tatoeba #3258997 by nimfeo, translation #2063902 by Eldad
- Peut-on avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?Could we have the bill, please?Tatoeba #12313198 by lbdx, translation #9987307 by CK
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Emma are finishing their meal at a bistro.
- GabrielC'était délicieux. L'addition, s'il vous plaît !That was delicious. The bill, please!
- EmmaTu veux partager la note, Gabriel ?Do you want to split the bill, Gabriel?
- GabrielOui, on peut faire moitié-moitié.Yes, we can go half and half.
- EmmaD'accord, je m'en occupe.Okay, I'll take care of it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
