l'addition, s'il vous plaît
The phrase 'may I have the bill' in French is l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
This phrase is used to make a polite request for the total amount of money owed for a meal at a restaurant. While you can use full sentences such as Puis-je avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît? or Est-ce que je pourrais avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît? to say 'May I have the bill, please?' or 'Could I have the bill, please?', the standard way to request it is simply by stating l'addition, s'il vous plaît.
What does it mean word for word?
The word l'addition literally means 'the bill' or 'the check' in a restaurant context.
When do people say it?
In many French restaurants, servers will not bring the bill to your table until you explicitly ask for it, as they consider it rude to rush a customer.
Did you know?
- If you want to be even more discreet, you can catch a waiter's eye and make a writing motion in the air with your hand. This silent gesture is a common, non-verbal way to request l'addition without speaking aloud.
- The word addition shares its roots with the English 'addition', though in French it has transitioned from a mathematical concept of adding numbers to the final sum of a restaurant check.
- In some casual French cafés, you may be expected to pay au comptoir at the counter rather than asking for l'addition at the table.
Examples in context
- Est-ce que je peux avoir l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?May I have the bill, please?
- Pourriez-vous m'apporter l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?Could you bring me the bill, please?
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are finishing their dinner at a restaurant.
- LéaC'était délicieux. On demande l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?That was delicious. Shall we ask for the bill, please?
- NathanOui, je m'en occupe.Yes, I'll take care of it.
- LéaExcusez-moi ! L'addition, s'il vous plaît.Excuse me! The bill, please.
- NathanJe vous apporte ça tout de suite.I'll bring that to you right away.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vous, CC BY-SA 4.0.
