French · Real conversations
How to say “I think there's a mistake on the bill.” in French
Politely ask staff to check a possible bill error.
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
I think there's a mistake on the bill.
The phrase signals uncertainty and opens a practical check.
Use it in three situations
An extra item
Je crois qu'il y a une erreur sur l'addition.
I think there's a mistake on the bill.
An incorrect quantity
Je crois qu'on nous a facturé deux cafés.
I think we've been charged for two coffees.
Checking a total
Pourriez-vous vérifier l'addition, s'il vous plaît ?
Could you check the bill, please?
What to watch for
Identify the item or amount in question; repeating that the whole bill is wrong is less useful.
Read the whole expression before replacing a detail. The natural wording may use a different order or construction from the English sentence.
Your turn
Imagine restaurant problems. Say this in French: I think we've been charged for two coffees.
Reveal a sample reply
Je crois qu'on nous a facturé deux cafés.
I think we've been charged for two coffees.
Build a useful exchange
Explain a problem with an order and settle the bill.
This expression in other languages
A note on speaking French
Use vous with strangers, staff, and people you address formally; use tu when that relationship is established. Je voudrais and pourriez-vous can make a request considerate. The most appropriate choice depends on the person and the situation.
Keep accents and apostrophes. A familiar spoken expression may differ from its literal English translation. Read the complete line, including the pronoun and the words that connect the request.
