l'addition, s'il vous plaît
The English phrase "can I have the bill, please?" is translated into French as l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The phrase is a polite request for the total amount of money owed after eating at a restaurant. While you can use longer sentences to ask for the bill, it is standard and polite in French to simply say l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
What does it mean word for word?
The term l'addition literally translates to "the addition", referring to the mathematical sum of the items you ordered.
When do people say it?
In many French restaurants, the waiter will not bring the bill to your table until you explicitly ask for it, because bringing it earlier is considered rude to rush a customer.
Did you know?
- Asking for l'addition is often accompanied by a subtle hand gesture where the speaker mimics writing in the air with their finger.
- The word vous in your request comes from the same Latin root as the Russian word вы, showing how deeply connected these European languages are.
- In traditional French etiquette, it is considered an imposition to ask for the bill the very moment you finish your last bite of food.
Examples in context
- Non merci, pourriez-vous m'apporter l'addition, s'il vous plaît?No thanks, could you bring me the bill, please?
- Hé, tu peux me passer l'addition, s'il te plaît?Hey, can you pass me the bill, please?
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît.The bill, please.
- Est-ce que je peux avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?Can I have the bill, please?
- On voudrait l'addition, s'il vous plaît.We would like the bill, please.
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are finishing their meal at a bistro.
- LucasC'était délicieux, n'est-ce pas ?That was delicious, wasn't it?
- ManonOui, j'ai adoré mon plat.Yes, I loved my dish.
- LucasGarçon, l'addition, s'il vous plaît !Waiter, the bill, please!
- ManonJe vais payer avec ma carte.I will pay with my card.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
