German · Real conversations

Payments: useful German phrases

Clarify a payment, a receipt, or a refund.

Start with the essentials

Start with the essential words and expressions below. Next, learn the five specific phrases in the reference table. Finally, read both sides of the exchange and try the linked rehearsal before revealing its sample replies. This collection connects to the broader vocabulary topic.

Can I pay by card?
Kann ich mit Karte zahlen?
Can I pay by card?
Money
das Geld
Money
Receipt
die Quittung
Receipt
How much?
wie viel?
How much?

Make the conversation more specific

Useful German expressions for payments
What you want to say	German
Can I pay by card?	Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? Can I pay by card?
Money	das Geld Money
Receipt	die Quittung Receipt
How much?	wie viel? How much?
The card was declined.	Die Karte wurde abgelehnt. Show English translation The card was declined.
Could I have a receipt?	Könnte ich einen Beleg bekommen? Show English translation Could I have a receipt?
When will the refund arrive?	Wann bekomme ich die Rückerstattung? Show English translation When will the refund arrive?
Can I pay in installments?	Kann ich in Raten zahlen? Show English translation Can I pay in installments?
Is there an extra charge?	Gibt es eine zusätzliche Gebühr? Show English translation Is there an extra charge?

Read the other side of the exchange

Partner
Bitte versuchen Sie es mit Ihrer Karte am Terminal.
Please try your card at the terminal.
You
Die Karte wurde abgelehnt.
The card was declined.
Partner
Wir können eine andere Karte versuchen. Diesmal hat die Zahlung funktioniert.
We can try another card. The payment went through this time.
You
Könnte ich einen Beleg bekommen?
Could I have a receipt?

Payments 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.