How to Say "Get the Bill" in French

demander l'addition

Get the bill in French, meaning to ask a server for the check, is demander l'addition.

demander l'addition describes the action. At the table you simply say L'addition, s'il vous plaît, the bill, please.

What does it mean word for word?

demander means to ask for and l'addition is the bill.

In France the server usually does not bring the bill until you ask for it, since rushing diners is seen as rude.

In France, you may need to make a specific hand gesture, like mimicking writing in the air with your finger, to signal the server for l'addition from across the room.
In some French-speaking regions, it is common to ask for l'addition and then request to séparer the bill, though many traditional French servers prefer to handle a single total and let guests settle it privately.
The verb demander is derived from the Latin demandāre, which is a distant relative of the English word 'demand'.

Léa and Hugo are finishing their meal at a small cafe.

Léa

Le repas était excellent, Hugo.
The meal was excellent, Hugo.
Hugo

Oui, c'était très bon. On demande l'addition ?
Yes, it was very good. Shall we get the bill?
Léa

Oui, je vais demander l'addition au serveur.
Yes, I will ask the server for the bill.
Hugo

D'accord, je t'attends ici.
Okay, I will wait for you here.

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