New here? This is lesson 145 of a free 240-lesson German course.
Treating friends to dinner in German
After the market, Priya, Jule and Anton sit down to eat. Priya wants to treat her friend, but the bill still has to land on the table first.
You'll ask for the bill, say whether you pay together or apart, and round up with keep the change.
You'll also offer to treat a friend, promise the next round, or split it.
Staff get a polite request. Friends get du, and Stimmt so is rounding up, not a speech about tips.
By the end of this lesson
Ask for the bill, offer to treat a friend, and split or round up.
- Die Rechnung, bitte.The bill, please.
- Zusammen oder getrennt?Together or separately?
- Stimmt so.Keep the change.
- Ich lade dich ein.This one's on me.
- Nächstes Mal zahle ich.Next time I'll pay.
- Wir teilen uns die Rechnung.Let's split the bill.
Scene — after the market
The canal market is packing up. Priya, Jule and Anton look for a table nearby so they can sit down to eat.
A stranger stands up. A server will bring plates. Priya already plans to treat Jule after they eat.
Learn — pay, treat, split
Six lines cover asking for the bill, paying together or apart, rounding up, treating a friend, and splitting.
The prefix of einladen sits at the end: Ich lade dich ein.
Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
When to use it: Ask staff for the bill when you are ready to pay.
This stays polite to staff without naming Sie.
Say it: Rechnung uses the soft ich sound, not the ach sound.
Zusammen oder getrennt?
Together or separately?
When to use it: Staff ask this when two or more people might pay.
Zusammen is one bill. Getrennt means each person pays.
Say it: Zusammen puts the stress on SAM, not on ZU.
Stimmt so.
Keep the change.
When to use it: Say this when you pay cash and round the total up.
This rounds the total up. It is not a long tip talk.
Say it: St at the start of Stimmt sounds like sht.
Ich lade dich ein.
This one's on me.
When to use it: Tell a friend you will pay for their meal today.
The prefix of einladen sits at the end of the clause.
Nächstes Mal zahle ich.
Next time I'll pay.
When to use it: Promise a friend that you will pay the next time.
The verb comes second, so zahle stands before ich.
Say it: Nächstes has an ä, not a plain a.
Wir teilen uns die Rechnung.
Let's split the bill.
When to use it: Suggest that everyone at the table pays a share.
Uns shows you split it with the others at the table.
Story — who pays
Watch Priya try to treat Jule after the market. Anton reaches for the bill, then asks if it is almost ready.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.
- Fruit crates sit on the pavement. A stranger stands up from a canal table.
JuleIst hier noch frei?Is this seat free?- StrangerJa, der ist frei.Yes, that one is free.
- They sit with bags from the market. Later the plates sit empty.
- JuleIch war heute auf dem Markt.I went to the market today.
- Jule looks at the empty plates, then at Priya.
- JuleWir teilen uns die Rechnung.Let's split the bill.
PriyaIch lade dich ein.This one's on me.- JuleNächstes Mal zahle ich.Next time I'll pay.
- PriyaDie Rechnung, bitte.The bill, please.
- Anton reaches toward the counter and waits for the bill.
AntonIst es gleich fertig?Is it almost ready?- ServerGleich, einen Moment.Just a moment.
- The server comes back and sets the bill on the table.
- ServerZusammen oder getrennt?Together or separately?
- PriyaZusammen, bitte. Ich zahle für Jule und mich.Together, please. I'll pay for Jule and me.
- AntonIch zahle getrennt.I'll pay separately.
- Priya pays cash for herself and Jule, rounding the amount up a little.
- PriyaStimmt so.Keep the change.
Practice — the bill
Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.
They stay tiny, so the round moves fast.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Zusammen oder getrennt?
What do you say?
What do you say?
You pay in cash and want them to keep the leftover coins.
Build the line
Build the line
This one's on me.
.
Tap the words in order.
Pick the reply
Jule says:
Pick the reply
Ich lade dich ein.
This one's on me.
And you reply with:
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Let's split the bill.
Wir ____ uns die Rechnung.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Promise your friend that you will pay next time.
Nächstes Mal ____ ich.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this when you want the bill after a meal.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
I went to the market today.
Ich war heute auf dem ____.
What do you say?
What do you say?
You paid in cash and ask if you should keep the receipt.
Say it — your round
Now you're Priya at the table after the market. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.
Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.
- AntonNa, seid ihr satt?Well, are you full?
- Priya (you)Ask the server for the bill.
Ask the server for the bill.
Die Rechnung, bitte.
The bill, please.
0 of 3 said
Recap — what you can say now
| German | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| Die Rechnung, bitte. | The bill, please. | |
| Zusammen oder getrennt? | Together or separately? | |
| Stimmt so. | Keep the change. | |
| Ich lade dich ein. | This one's on me. | |
| Nächstes Mal zahle ich. | Next time I'll pay. | |
| Wir teilen uns die Rechnung. | Let's split the bill. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Want to keep these bill lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.
A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps treating and splitting ready at the table.
Open Yak Cards