German · Food & Drink

"The check, please" in German: die Rechnung, bitte

die Rechnung, bitte

Say it: dee REKH-noong BIT-tuhphrase/diː ˈʁɛçnʊŋ ˈbɪtə/

Note: also: zahlen, bitte

The check, please in German is die Rechnung, bitte. Catch a server's eye and say it clearly. Zahlen, bitte is a related note, not the main headword phrase.

End of dinner

Entschuldigungdie Rechnung, bitte.
Excuse me — the check, please.
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How to pronounce die Rechnung, bitte

Say it

dee REKH-noong BIT-tuh

/diː ˈʁɛçnʊŋ ˈbɪtə/

dee REKH-noong BIT-tuh. Rech with soft ch; nung like "noong"; bitte short.

"The check, please" in German: quick reference

GermanEnglish
die Rechnung, bittethe check, please

Core phrase.

Können wir bitte die Rechnung haben?Could we have the check, please?

Politer.

Getrennt oder zusammen?separate or together?

Server question.

zahlen, bittepay, please

Note only.

How to use die Rechnung, bitte in real life

  1. 1End of dinner

    Entschuldigungdie Rechnung, bitte.

    Excuse me — the check, please.

    Full phrase.

  2. 2Café laptop exit

    Wir müssen los. Die Rechnung, bitte.

    We have to go. The check, please.

    Time pressure.

  3. 3Splitting

    Die Rechnung, bitte, und getrennt zahlen.

    The check, please, and separate bills.

    Plus split.

Mistakes English speakers make with die Rechnung, bitte

Incorrect: Zahlen, bitte. (only, for this page)

Correct: Die Rechnung, bitte.

Zahlen bitte is a note; teach die Rechnung, bitte.

Incorrect: The check, bitte.

Correct: Die Rechnung, bitte.

Use Rechnung.

Good to know

Germans often wait for you to ask; bills may not rush to the table. Tip by rounding up or saying Stimmt so when paying cash.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Finishing a restaurant meal

  1. ChatPal

    Noch einen Kaffee?

    Another coffee?

  2. You

    Nein, danke. Die Rechnung, bitte.

    No thanks. The check, please.

  3. ChatPal

    Ich winke. Die Rechnung, bitte!

    I'll wave. The check, please!

  4. You

    Lass uns zusammen zahlen.

    Let's pay together.

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"The check, please" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "The check, please" in German

How do you ask for the check?

Die Rechnung, bitte.

More polite?

Können wir bitte die Rechnung haben?

Separate checks?

Getrennt, bitte.

Is zahlen bitte enough?

Understood, but the headword line is die Rechnung, bitte.

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