French · Food & Drink

"The check, please" in French: l'addition, s'il vous plaît

l'addition, s'il vous plaît

Say it: la-dee-SYOHN seel voo PLAYphrase/l‿a.di.sjɔ̃ sil vu plɛ/

The check please in French is l'addition, s'il vous plaît. Keep the polite vous form with restaurant staff. Casual with friends splitting: on prend l'addition ?

End of dinner

Monsieurl'addition, s'il vous plaît.
Sir—the check, please.
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How to pronounce l'addition, s'il vous plaît

Say it

la-dee-SYOHN seel voo PLAY

/l‿a.di.sjɔ̃ sil vu plɛ/

Addition: a-dee-SYOHN. S'il vous plaît: seel voo PLAY. With the article, l'addition is la-dee-SYOHN.

"The check, please" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'addition, s'il vous plaîtthe check, please

Default polite ask.

l'addition, s'il te plaîtthe check, please (tu)

Rare with staff; friends.

on peut avoir l'addition ?can we get the check?

Softer.

régler l'additionto settle the bill

Paying.

How to use l'addition, s'il vous plaît in real life

  1. 1End of dinner

    Monsieurl'addition, s'il vous plaît.

    Sir—the check, please.

    Full polite phrase.

  2. 2Busy brasserie

    Quand vous avez une minute : l'addition, s'il vous plaît.

    When you have a minute: the check, please.

    Softener.

  3. 3Café terrace

    On y va. L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

    We're off. The check, please.

    Exit cue.

Mistakes English speakers make with l'addition, s'il vous plaît

Incorrect: Le check, please.

Correct: L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

Use addition, not check.

Incorrect: L'addition s'il te plaît to a waiter you don't know.

Correct: L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

Staff usually take vous.

Good to know

Servers rarely rush the bill; you must ask. L'addition, s'il vous plaît is the classic cue. Cards are normal; splitting can be awkward—say on règle ensemble or chacun sa part. Tip culture is lighter than in the US.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Finishing lunch with a colleague

  1. ChatPal

    L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

    The check, please.

  2. You

    Ouil'addition, s'il vous plaît, on est pressés.

    Yes—the check, please; we're in a hurry.

  3. ChatPal

    Je règle par carte.

    I'll pay by card.

  4. You

    Je te rembourse ma part sur l'appli.

    I'll pay you back my share on the app.

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"The check, please" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "The check, please" in French

How do you say the check please in French?

L'addition, s'il vous plaît.

Why vous?

Restaurant staff are usually addressed with vous.

Will the waiter bring it automatically?

Often no — you ask.

How do you pronounce addition?

a-dee-SYOHN; l'addition is la-dee-SYOHN.

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