To ask for the bill in German, say Die Rechnung, bitte! (dee REKH-noong) or, just as often, Zahlen, bitte! (TSAH-len), "paying, please". Waiters in Germany won't bring it until you ask. They will then ask Zusammen oder getrennt? (together or separately?), and you add the tip by telling them the total you want to pay.
- The bill, please
- Die Rechnung, bitte.
- Everyday
- Zahlen, bitte!
- Together or separately?
- Zusammen oder getrennt?
- Keep the change
- Stimmt so.
- Level
- A1
Rechnung or zahlen: what do you say to the waiter?
Catch the waiter's eye, raise a hand slightly, and use one of these. All are polite; the full sentences sound a little softer.
| German | Literally | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Zahlen, bitte! | Paying, please! | Everyday, short |
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | The bill, please. | Neutral, a touch more formal |
| Wir möchten bitte zahlen. | We'd like to pay, please. | Polite, for a group |
| Können wir bitte zahlen? | Can we pay, please? | Polite |
| Ich hätte gern die Rechnung. | I'd like the bill. | Polite, slightly formal |
Lingering is normal in German cafés and restaurants, which is why the bill doesn't arrive on its own. Bringing it unasked would feel like being told to leave.
Die Rechnung also means any bill or invoice: the electricity bill, a tradesman's invoice. A Contos B1 story finds a café owner doing her paperwork in a quiet hour:
Hanni saß in der Küche und ordnete Rechnungen, ihre Brille rutschte auf ihrer Nase herunter.Zusammen oder getrennt? How paying works
Splitting the bill item by item is completely normal in Germany, even on a date. The waiter often settles up at the table with a wallet and a card reader, adding up each person's share on the spot.
Zusammen oder getrennt?
Together or separately?
The waiter's question.
Getrennt, bitte.
Separately, please.
Zusammen, bitte. Ich lade dich ein.
Together, please. It's on me.
du. With Sie: Ich lade Sie ein.
Das geht auf mich.
This one's on me.
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
In cafés and bakeries with counter service you pay at the till, die Kasse, often before you sit down.
How do you tip in a German restaurant?
Don't leave coins on the table. Instead, when the waiter tells you the amount, say the total you want to pay including the tip. Rounding up is common, and for good service many people give around ten per cent.
Das macht siebenundzwanzig vierzig.
That's 27.40.
The waiter.
Machen Sie dreißig.
Make it thirty.
You, paying with a card or handing over cash.
Stimmt so.
Keep the change.
Literally "it's right like that", said as you hand over the cash.
Before you get to the bill, you'll want how to say delicious in German for the waiter's question about the food. Prices and numbers are covered on how to say "How much is it?" in German.
Read Stamps and Melancholy at A2: a café, a grandmother's secret and a stack of unsent letters.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce Rechnung?
Roughly "REKH-noong". The ch is the soft hiss in ich, the u is like the oo in "book", and the stress is on the first syllable.
How do you call the waiter in Germany?
Eye contact and a small wave, or a quiet Entschuldigung! Calling out Kellner! is rude. Herr Ober! is old-fashioned and sounds jokey to most people now.
Is tipping expected in Germany?
It is customary rather than compulsory, and service is included in the prices. Rounding up or adding around ten per cent for good service is normal; for poor service, people often give little or nothing.
What is the difference between Rechnung and Quittung?
Die Rechnung is the bill you pay; die Quittung is the receipt that proves you paid, for example for expenses. Ask Kann ich eine Quittung haben?