l'addition, s'il vous plaît
In French, "can we have the bill?" is typically expressed as l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for the total amount of money owed at the end of a meal in a restaurant. While English speakers often use a full sentence like "Can we have the bill?", French speakers typically use the noun phrase l'addition, s'il vous plaît to achieve the same polite effect.
Which one should you use?
The phrase On peut avoir l'addition ? serves as a more literal translation of the English sentence "Can we have the bill?" Other variations exist depending on the level of formality and the specific verb used, such as Pouvez-vous nous apporter l'addition, s'il vous plaît? (Can you bring us the bill, please?) or Pourriez-vous nous donner l'addition, s'il vous plaît? (Could you give us the bill, please?).
When do people say it?
In many French restaurants, it is considered polite to wait for the server to bring the bill rather than asking for it immediately, as it can imply you are rushing to leave.
Did you know?
- In many French cafes, you might see people simply catching the eye of a waiter and making a slight writing motion in the air with a pen. This gesture is a widely understood shorthand for asking for l'addition without saying a word.
- Using the word le chèque to ask for the bill will cause confusion in France. In French, un chèque refers exclusively to the physical paper bank document used for payment.
- While l'addition is the standard term, you might hear the word l'ardoise in casual brasseries. This literally means 'the slate', referring to a running tab kept on a chalkboard.
Examples in context
- Bonsoir! Pouvez-vous nous apporter l'addition, s'il vous plaît?Good evening! Can you bring us the bill, please?
- Tu peux nous donner l'addition, s'il te plaît?Can you give us the bill, please?
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît.The bill, please.
Example conversation
Emma and Gabriel are finishing their meal at a cafe.
- EmmaOn a bien mangé, Gabriel.We ate very well, Gabriel.
- GabrielOui, c'était délicieux. Tu veux payer ?Yes, it was delicious. Do you want to pay?
- EmmaL'addition, s'il vous plaît !The bill, please!
- GabrielJe vais appeler le serveur.I will call the waiter.
