German - Dining: Paying the Bill

Lesson 158 of 158

Learner practicing German dining phrases for asking the bill and splitting payment.

Goal: Common German phrases for the check and splitting payment

Free German lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Welcome to Lesson 158 — a quick, friendly practice for paying at cafés and restaurants in Germany. We'll listen, practice, and then say the phrases out loud so they stick.

Level A1: In this short CEFR-aligned lesson you will learn four practical phrases for asking for the bill and deciding how to pay: Die Rechnung, bitte.; Zusammen, bitte.; Getrennt, bitte.; and Stimmt so. You'll hear them in a mini-conversation, do quick quizzes, and practice saying each phrase aloud. Perfect for your next meal out in Germany.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use four polite phrases to request the bill and choose how to pay.
  • Ask for the bill and say whether you want one check or separate checks.
  • Use 'Stimmt so.' when leaving a tip after paying in cash.
  • Build confidence speaking these short phrases in real dining situations (Level A1).
A friendly café scene in Germany where people ask for 'Die Rechnung, bitte.' and choose 'Getrennt, bitte.' or 'Zusammen, bitte.'

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Stimmt so.

Keep the change.

Meaning: Keep the change.

When to use: Used when paying cash and giving a tip; literally “It's correct like that.” Say this after handing cash if you want the server to keep the change.

Tip: Don't shorten to just 'Stimmt' — say 'Stimmt so.' to mean 'keep the change.'

Hier sind 20 Euro. Stimmt so.
Here is €20. Keep the change.
Danke, das Essen war gut. Stimmt so.
Thanks, the food was good. Keep the change.

Getrennt, bitte.

Separately, please.

Meaning: Separately, please.

When to use: Used when splitting the bill so each person pays their own part. Say it clearly to the server when they bring the bill.

Tip: Beginners sometimes think 'getrennt' means 'separate the plates' — here it means separate payments.

Wir möchten getrennt bezahlen. Getrennt, bitte.
We want to pay separately. Separately, please.
Zwei Karten — getrennt, bitte.
Two cards — separately, please.

Zusammen, bitte.

Together, please.

Meaning: Together, please.

When to use: Used when the group wants a single bill to pay together. Say this when you want one check for the table.

Wir zahlen zusammen. Zusammen, bitte.
We are paying together. Together, please.
Einmal zahlen, bitte. Zusammen, bitte.
Pay once, please. Together, please.

Die Rechnung, bitte.

The bill, please.

Meaning: The bill, please.

When to use: Standard phrase to request the bill at the end of a meal. Polite and common in cafés and restaurants.

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.
Excuse me, the bill, please.
Können wir bezahlen? Die Rechnung, bitte.
Can we pay? The bill, please.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At the end of a meal at a small café

Two diners decide how to pay their bill and use 'Stimmt so.' when leaving a tip.

What do Anna and David ask for and decide about?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Entschuldigung, die Rechnung, bitte.

Excuse me, the bill, please.

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Wollen wir zusammen zahlen?

Shall we pay together?

Portrait of Anna in a German lesson dialogue

Anna

Ja, zusammen, bitte.

Yes, together, please.

Kellner

Kommt sofort. Möchtet ihr getrennt bezahlen?

Coming right away. Would you like to pay separately?

Portrait of David in a German lesson dialogue

David

Nein danke. Hier, 50 Euro. Stimmt so.

No thanks. Here, €50. Keep the change.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

You want to ask for the bill at a restaurant. Which German phrase do you say?

Your group wants one single bill. Which phrase fits?

You are paying cash and want the server to keep the small change. Which phrase do you use?

Two friends want to pay separately. Which is the polite phrase to request that?

Die Rechnung, bitte. — The bill, please.

At the end of lunch, Anna says: '___' when she wants the server to bring the check.

Zusammen, bitte. — Together, please.

The group tells the server they want to pay on one card: '___'.

Stimmt so. — Keep the change.

After giving exact cash and a little tip, Mark smiles and says: '___'.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Stimmt so.

Keep the change.

Say this phrase out loud:

Getrennt, bitte.

Separately, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

Zusammen, bitte.

Together, please.

Say this phrase out loud:

Die Rechnung, bitte.

The bill, please.