German · Restaurant
You ask for the bill and the waiter asks if you are paying together: what to say in German
You ask for the bill and the waiter asks whether to pay together.
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How it's done. It is normal in Germany to pay separately (getrennt), and the waiter asks right away; you tip (Trinkgeld) by rounding up: say Stimmt so and no change is given back.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Die Rechnung, bitte.
Dee REKH-noong, BEE-teh.
The bill, please.
Or say:Wir möchten bitte zahlen.
Veer MYOKH-tayn BEE-teh TSAH-layn.
THEY SAY
Zusammen oder getrennt?Tsoo-ZAH-mayn OH-duh geh-TRAYNT?
Together or separately?
They might also say:
Möchten Sie alles zusammen oder getrennt bezahlen?
MYOKH-tayn zee AH-les tsoo-ZAH-mayn OH-duh geh-TRAYNT beh-TSAH-layn?
Would you like to pay everything together or separately?
2
YOU REPLY
Getrennt, bitte. Ich hatte die Suppe und das Wasser.
Geh-TRAYNT, BEE-teh. Eekh KHAH-teh dee ZOO-peh oont dahs VAH-suh.
Separately, please. I had the soup and the water.
THEY SAY
Das macht neun Euro fünfzig.Dahs mahkht noyn OY-roh FYOONF-tseekh.
That comes to nine euros fifty.
They might also say:
Das sind dann neun Euro fünfzig für Sie.
Dahs zeent dahn noyn OY-roh FYOONF-tseekh fyoor zee.
That is nine euros fifty for you.
3
YOU REPLY
Hier sind zehn Euro. Stimmt so.
Kheer zeent tsayn OY-roh. Shteemt zoh.
Here are ten euros. Keep the change.
THEY SAY
Vielen Dank! Das ist sehr freundlich. Einen schönen Abend noch!FEE-layn dahnk! Dahs eest zehr FROYN-dleekh. IGH-nayn SHYOH-nayn AH-baynt nokh!
Thank you very much! That is very kind. Have a nice evening!
4
YOU FINISH
Ihnen auch. Auf Wiedersehen!
EE-nayn owkh. Owf VEE-dehr-zeh-ayn!
You too. Goodbye!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “German for life in Germany”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Rechnung
REKH-noong
noun
bill
Zusammen
Tsoo-ZAH-mayn
adverb
together
getrennt
geh-TRAYNT
adjective
separately
hatte
KHAH-teh
verb
had
Suppe
ZOO-peh
noun
soup
Wasser
VAH-suh
noun
water
28 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?
KYOH-nayn zee dahs BEE-teh vee-dehr-KHOH-layn?
Can you repeat that, please?
Können Sie bitte langsamer sprechen?
KYOH-nayn zee BEE-teh LAHNG-zuh-muh SHPREH-khayn?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Similar situations
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→The waiter takes your order: food and drinksRestaurant · A1 in the app
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