German · Real conversations
Request service naturally in German
In a café or restaurant, a clear order can be courteous without a long introduction. Use a straightforward polite order, a request for an extra item, or a considerate timing phrase.
Three ways to say it
Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Place a simple order with the conventional polite wording.
Könnte ich etwas Wasser bekommen, bitte?
Could I have some water, please?
Ask for an additional item while giving the staff member a clear request.
Wenn Sie einen Moment Zeit haben, könnten wir die Rechnung bekommen?
When you have a moment, could we have the bill?
Request the bill while acknowledging that the staff member may be busy.
Avoid translating word by word
English 'I would like' expresses a request here, not enjoyment of an imaginary object. A target language may use a conditional, a request verb, or a polite ending rather than translating each English word.
See the difference in context
Ordering at a café
Was möchten Sie?
What would you like?
Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee, bitte.
I'd like a coffee, please.
Requesting something else at the table
Darf es noch etwas sein?
Can I get you anything else?
Könnte ich etwas Wasser bekommen, bitte?
Could I have some water, please?
Your turn
Ask for the bill when the staff member has a moment. Use the complete polite request rather than translating 'have' as ownership.
Reveal a sample reply
Wenn Sie einen Moment Zeit haben, könnten wir die Rechnung bekommen?
When you have a moment, could we have the bill?
This speaking goal in other languages
A note on speaking German
Use Sie for formal address and du with people you address informally. Könnten Sie …? is a useful polite request. Keep noun capitals and the verb position shown in each complete sentence.
The examples preserve German accents and ß. Read a full sentence before replacing a detail: a subordinate clause can move the verb to the end, and case can change an article or pronoun.
