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How to Say ‘The bill, please’ in French

L'addition, s'il vous plaît

l' a-dee-SYOHN seel eel voo pleh

[l' a-dee-SYOHN seel eel voo pleh]

🇫🇷 In France: Waiters in France won't bring the bill until you ask, since rushing you out would be rude. Catch their eye and say this, or you may wait a long time.

Phrase Breakdown

L'addition,

l' a-dee-SYOHN

The bill,

The word for the restaurant bill. The 'l'' links to the vowel: 'la-dee-SYOHN', with a nasal ending.

Example

L'addition est sur la table.

The bill is on the table.

Words in this phrase

L'

[l']

the

Used before singular when the item is known.

Example

L'homme est là.

The man is there.

addition

[a-dee-SYOHN]

bill / check

In a restaurant or café, 'l'addition' is the bill you pay at the end.

Example

Le serveur apporte l'addition.

The waiter brings the bill.

s'il vous plaît

seel eel voo pleh

please

The polite formal 'please'. The final 't' is silent: 'seel voo PLEH'.

Example

De l'eau, s'il vous plaît.

Some water, please.

Words in this phrase

s'

[seel]

if

Part of the fixed polite expression s'il vous plaît, literally if it pleases you.

Example

S'il vous plaît, confirmez la réservation.

Please confirm the reservation.

il

[eel]

it

In il y a, il does not refer to a person; it is part of the expression meaning “there is/there are.”

Example

Est-ce qu'il y a un parking sur place ?

Is there parking on site?

vous

[voo]

you

Used to refer to the person or people being addressed.

Example

Vous aimez le film?

Do you like the movie?

plaît

[pleh]

pleases

From plaire, to please; part of the expression meaning please.

Example

S'il vous plaît, cela me plaît beaucoup.

Please, I like that very much.

Related guides

Ordering in French: Cafés, Bakeries and Restaurants (with Menu Vocabulary)How to order in French at a café, a bakery and a restaurant: the phrases, the questions staff ask, and the menu and food vocabulary to understand the answers.How to Learn to Speak French, Not Just Read ItWhy reading French doesn't make you speak it, and a practical way to learn to speak French: real conversations, speaking out loud from day one, and practice with people.

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