German · Feste / Ausflug
You have a bill for meals at the Kita and do not understand what it is: what to say in German
You get a bill for meals at the Kita and do not understand what it is.
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How it's done. Besides the Elternbeitrag (fee for the place) you often pay Essensgeld (meal money); in the transfer you give the child's name as the Verwendungszweck (reference).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
Entschuldigung, ich habe eine Rechnung für das Essen bekommen. Was bedeutet das?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, eekh KHAH-beh IGH-neh REKH-noong fyoor dahs EH-sayn beh-KOH-mayn. Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
Excuse me, I got a bill for the meals. What does that mean?
Or say:Entschuldigung, was ist das Essensgeld?
Aynt-SHOOL-dee-goong, vahs eest dahs EH-sayns-gelt?
THEY SAY
Das ist das Geld für das Mittagessen. Sie zahlen es jeden Monat.Dahs eest dahs gelt fyoor dahs MEE-tuh-keh-sayn. Zee TSAH-layn es YEH-dayn MOH-nuht.
That is the money for lunch. You pay it every month.
They might also say:
Das Essensgeld deckt Frühstück, Mittagessen und Snacks.
Dahs EH-sayns-gelt dekt FRYOOS-tyook, MEE-tuh-keh-sayn oont sneks.
The meal money covers breakfast, lunch and snacks.
2
YOU REPLY
Muss ich das überweisen oder bar zahlen?
Moos eekh dahs yoo-behr-VIGH-zayn OH-duh bahr TSAH-layn?
Do I have to transfer it or pay in cash?
THEY SAY
Bitte per Überweisung. Die IBAN steht auf der Rechnung. Als Verwendungszweck schreiben Sie den Namen Ihres Kindes.BEE-teh pehr yoo-behr-VIGH-zoong. Dee EE-bahn shtet owf dehr REKH-noong. Ahls fehr-VAYN-doongsts-vek SHRIGH-bayn zee dayn NAH-mayn EE-res KEEN-des.
Please by transfer. The IBAN is on the bill. As the reference write your child's name.
3
YOU REPLY
Und wenn mein Kind krank ist? Muss ich dann auch zahlen?
Oont vayn mighn keent krahnk eest? Moos eekh dahn owkh TSAH-layn?
And if my child is ill? Do I still have to pay?
THEY SAY
Das hängt vom Vertrag ab. Fragen Sie bitte im Büro nach.Dahs khayngt fom fehr-TRAHK ahp. FRAH-gayn zee BEE-teh eem byoo-ROH nahkh.
That depends on the contract. Please ask in the office.
4
YOU FINISH
Gut, ich frage dort nach. Danke!
Goot, eekh FRAH-geh dort nahkh. DAHN-keh!
Good, I'll ask there. Thanks!
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
habe
KHAH-beh
verb
I have
Rechnung
REKH-noong
noun
bill
Essen
EH-sayn
verb
to eat
bekommen
beh-KOH-mayn
verb
to get, to receive
bedeutet
beh-DOY-tet
verb
means
ist
eest
verb
is
51 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?
Was bedeutet das?
Vahs beh-DOY-tet dahs?
What does this mean?
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