How to Ask for the BillIn German

How do you ask for the bill in German? Knowing how to ask questions in German can be a struggle for beginners, but it can be an especially daunting task to have to ask for the bill when you don't know the language very well just yet.

But the good news is: If you just remember a few key phrases, you should be good to go and be able to pay for lattes left and right 😊

Here's a quick overview of what we're going to cover:

How to ask for the bill in German

Different ways to ask for the bill

Let's start with an overview of different ways to ask for the bill:

Using any of the above phrases is fine. Just remember that they're written in the singular and that if you continue talking to the waiter you would most probably use the formal "you" (Sie).

It would go something like this:

Entschuldigen Sie? Wir würden gerne zahlen, bitte.

Excuse me? We would like to pay, please.

Gar kein Problem, ich bin sofort bei Ihnen. Möchten Sie bar zahlen oder mit Karte?

No problem at all, I'll be right with you. Would you like to pay in cash or with a card?

Mit Karte bitte! Vielen Dank.

With a card, please! Thank you very much.

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Now let's talk about ways to ask for the check in German in a bit more detail.

Bill, please

Asking for the bill in German by saying "Bill please" or "Check please" would simply be "Die Rechnung, bitte". You could say that. But you shouldn't be suprised if some people might think you're a bit rude (and maybe also a little old school).

Die Rechnung bitte!

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bill please!

What we recommend instead is to say "Can I have the bill, please?".

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Can I have the bill, please?

The better & more polite version of asking for the bill is to just a tiny bit longer. The English equivalent would be to ask "I would like to have the bill, please?" or "Can I have the bill, please?":

Ich hätte gerne die Rechnung bitte.

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I would like to get the bill, please!

Or, if you're with multiple people you'd use the plural:

Wir hätten gerne die Rechnung bitte.

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We would like to get the bill, please.

If you stick to one of these two options, you will be fine.

I would like to pay please

Can I Pay Please

Lastly (and not less polite), you could also ask for the check by saying "Can I Pay Please?":

Vocabulary

If you're wondering what "bill" is in German, or how to say "you can keep the change" whilst on holiday here in Berlin, here is a quick overview of words & handy phrases: