Bar oder Karte
In German, a cashier asks cash or card with Bar oder Karte, usually spoken as the short question Bar oder Karte?
This is the standard, concise question at a checkout in German-speaking countries. Customers usually answer with just Bar or Mit Karte. To say you will pay in cash, use Ich zahle bar. To ask whether you can pay by card, say Kann ich mit Karte bezahlen?
What does it mean word for word?
Bar refers to paying in cash and Karte refers to a payment card.
Which one should you use?
Karte is any kind of card, while Kreditkarte means a credit card specifically.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes say Geld oder Karte. It is understandable, but Bar oder Karte is the idiomatic way to offer the choice.
When do people say it?
Cash is still widely used in Germany, and some smaller shops and cafes do not accept cards, so it is worth asking about Kartenzahlung, card payment, before you order.
Did you know?
- The word bar for cash comes from an ancient word meaning 'bare' or 'naked'. It originally referred to money that was 'naked' or visible, rather than being hidden in a bank or promised in a contract.
- While Karte means 'card' in the context of payment, the same word is used in German for a 'ticket' to a cinema or a 'map' of a city.
- Although Bar oder Karte is the standard, some German regions have a strong cultural habit of counting out exact change to avoid receiving small coins back, a practice known as 'passend zahlen'.
Examples in context
- Bar oder Karte?Cash or card?
- Möchten Sie bar oder Karte zahlen?Would you like to pay with cash or card?
Example conversation
Hannah is ringing up Julian's order at a cafe.
- HannahDas macht fünf Euro. Bar oder Karte?That is five euros. Cash or card?
- JulianIch zahle mit Karte, bitte.I will pay by card, please.
- HannahAlles klar, bitte hier auflegen.All right, please tap here.
- JulianVielen Dank, Hannah!Thank you very much, Hannah!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Bar, Karte, bar, oder, CC BY-SA 4.0.
