What does it mean word for word?
je voudrais means I would like, régler means to settle or pay and la note means the bill. Word for word it reads I would like to settle the bill.
Which one should you use?
J'aimerais régler ma facture et partir, s'il vous plaît. means I would like to settle my bill and leave, please. Je souhaite faire le check-out, s'il vous plaît. uses the English loan word. Je voudrais payer et partir, s'il te plaît. means I would like to pay and leave, please.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using je voudrais instead of je veux is the standard polite way to make a request to hotel staff. Je souhaite faire le check-out, s'il vous plaît. is formal, while Je veux faire le check-out. is informal.
How does it change in a sentence?
je voudrais is the conditional form of the verb meaning to want. It makes a request sound more polite than je veux.
When do people say it?
In modern informal French, especially in tourism, people sometimes use the English loan faire le check-out.
Did you know?
- In France, using the English phrase faire le check-out is common in high-end international hotels, but using it in a small, family-run gîte or chambre d'hôtes might be seen as overly pretentious.
- While régler means to pay the bill in this context, its primary meaning is 'to adjust' or 'to regulate'. It implies bringing a balance back to zero or putting things in order.
- The word note is used for bills in hotels and restaurants, but you would never use it for a utility bill or a phone bill, which are called facture.
Examples in context
- Bonjour, je souhaite faire le check-out, s'il vous plaît.Hello, I would like to check out, please.
- Je veux faire le check-out.I want to check out.
- J'aimerais régler ma facture et partir, s'il vous plaît.I would like to settle my bill and leave, please.
- Bonjour, je voudrais régler la note avant de partir.Hello, I would like to settle the bill before leaving.
Example conversation
Nathan is at the hotel reception desk talking to Emma.
- NathanBonjour Emma, je voudrais régler la note.Hello Emma, I would like to check out.
- EmmaBien sûr, Nathan. Un instant, s'il vous plaît.Of course, Nathan. One moment, please.
- NathanJe peux payer par carte ?Can I pay by card?
- EmmaOui, c'est possible.Yes, that is possible.
