L'addition, s'il vous plaît !
Splitting the bill · a free French immersion capsule
Useful sentences · 10
Phrases you'll actually use today. Tap Explain for the why behind each one.
On va partager l'addition ?
Should we split the bill?
Literal We are going to share the addition?
A casual way to propose splitting the bill using 'on' (informal 'we') and the verb 'partager' (to share/split).
- 'On' is used informally instead of 'nous' for 'we'
- Present tense of 'aller' + infinitive forms the near future
On pourrait diviser par quatre, non ?
We could divide it by four, right?
Literal One could divide by four, no?
Uses the conditional 'pourrait' to make a polite suggestion about splitting the bill evenly.
- 'Pourrait' is the conditional form of 'pouvoir'
- 'Non ?' at the end softens the suggestion, seeking agreement
Tu peux passer l'addition ?
Can you pass the bill?
Literal You can pass the addition?
A direct but friendly request to pass the bill around the table.
- 'Peux' is the informal present tense of 'pouvoir'
- 'L'addition' specifically means the restaurant or café bill
Ça fait combien chacun ?
How much is it each?
Literal That makes how much each one?
A quick way to ask for the per-person amount when splitting costs.
- 'Ça fait' literally means 'that makes', commonly used for amounts
- 'Chacun' means 'each one' or 'each person'
Je peux couvrir ta part si tu veux.
I can cover your share if you want.
Literal I can cover your part if you want.
A generous offer to pay for someone else's portion, using 'couvrir' in a financial context.
- 'Ta part' means 'your share or portion'
- 'Si tu veux' adds a polite, non-pressuring tone
Non, c'est gentil, mais je vais payer ma part.
No, that's kind, but I'll pay my share.
Literal No, it's kind, but I am going to pay my part.
A polite way to decline someone's offer and insist on paying your own way.
- 'C'est gentil' is a standard polite acknowledgment
- Near future 'je vais payer' expresses firm intention
Et si on laissait un pourboire ?
What if we left a tip?
Literal And if we left a tip?
Uses 'Et si + imparfait' to propose an idea, a common French structure for making suggestions.
- 'Et si + imparfait' is the classic structure for proposals
- 'Pourboire' literally means 'for drinking' but means tip
Tu préfères payer en liquide ou par carte ?
Do you prefer to pay in cash or by card?
Literal You prefer to pay in liquid or by card?
Asks about payment preference using 'en liquide' (cash) and 'par carte' (by card).
- 'En liquide' (in cash) uses the preposition 'en'
- 'Par carte' (by card) uses the preposition 'par'
J'ai pas de monnaie, désolé.
I don't have any change, sorry.
Literal I have not of change, sorry.
Informal spoken French drops 'ne' in negation; 'monnaie' means coins or change.
- Spoken French often drops 'ne': 'j'ai pas' instead of 'je n'ai pas'
- 'Monnaie' means coins or change, not money in general
On arrondit à cinquante euros, c'est plus simple.
We'll round up to fifty euros, it's simpler.
Literal We round to fifty euros, it's more simple.
Suggests rounding the amount to avoid exact change, using 'arrondir' (to round up or off).
- 'Arrondir' means to round a number up or off
- 'C'est plus simple' is a practical justification phrase
New words · 10
Themed vocabulary, each with an example you can borrow.
l'addition
the bill
L'addition, s'il vous plaît !
The bill, please!
Used specifically in restaurants and cafés
partager
to share / to split
On va partager l'addition.
We're going to split the bill.
Also means 'to share' in the general sense
la part
the share / portion
Je vais payer ma part.
I'll pay my share.
Common in financial splitting contexts
diviser
to divide
On divise par trois.
We divide by three.
'Diviser par' means divide by a number
le pourboire
the tip / gratuity
On laisse un pourboire ?
Should we leave a tip?
Tipping is optional in France
en liquide
in cash
Tu peux payer en liquide ?
Can you pay in cash?
'Liquide' literally means 'liquid'
la monnaie
coins / change
Tu as de la monnaie ?
Do you have any change?
Distinct from 'l'argent' (money in general)
arrondir
to round (up/off)
On arrondit à vingt euros.
We'll round it to twenty euros.
Used when avoiding exact change
chacun(e)
each one / each person
Ça fait dix euros chacun.
That's ten euros each.
Masculine: chacun; feminine: chacune
couvrir
to cover (pay for)
Je peux couvrir ta part.
I can cover your share.
Used figuratively to mean paying for someone's portion
Short reading
A tiny story stitched from today's words. Translation is hidden, tap to peek.
Après le dîner, Léa regarde l'addition et dit : « On va partager, non ? On pourrait diviser par quatre. » Marc répond : « Bonne idée. Ça fait combien chacun ? » Léa calcule : « Environ vingt euros chacun, mais on arrondit à vingt-deux pour le pourboire. » Marc propose : « Je peux couvrir ta part si tu veux. » Léa sourit : « Non, c'est gentil, mais je vais payer ma part. Tu préfères payer en liquide ou par carte ? »
Sentence by sentence
On va partager, non ?
We'll split it, right?
Near future 'on va + infinitive' for immediate plans; 'non ?' seeks confirmation
On pourrait diviser par quatre.
We could divide by four.
Conditional 'pourrait' makes the suggestion polite rather than commanding
Ça fait combien chacun ?
How much is it each?
'Ça fait' introduces amounts; 'chacun' distributes the total per person
On arrondit à vingt-deux pour le pourboire.
We'll round up to twenty-two for the tip.
'Arrondir à' means round to a specific number; 'pour' expresses purpose
Je vais payer ma part.
I'll pay my share.
Near future expresses firm personal intention; 'ma part' is possessive
Pattern of the day
One grammar move, explained once, that unlocks dozens of sentences.
Making Suggestions with 'On pourrait' and 'Et si on'
French uses two common structures for polite suggestions: 'On pourrait + infinitive' (We could...) and 'Et si on + imparfait' (What if we...). Both soften a proposal and invite agreement without pressure.
On pourrait + [infinitive] | Et si on + [imparfait] ?
On pourrait diviser par trois.
We could divide by three.
Et si on partageait l'addition ?
What if we split the bill?
On pourrait payer en liquide.
We could pay in cash.
Et si on arrondissait à cinquante ?
What if we rounded up to fifty?
Mini practice · 5
Low-pressure, never graded. Just enough to make it stick.
Et si on laissait un pourboire ?
On _____ partager l'addition ?
Hint Use the near future with aller
Which is the most natural way to suggest dividing the bill?
I don't have any change, sorry.
Hint Monnaie means coins or small change, not general money
Express this suggestion naturally using "Et si on": We'll round to fifty euros.
That’s today’s phraseberry.
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