How do you ask for the check? (the proper wording)
May 5th, 2005, 05:33 PM
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How do you ask for the check? (the proper wording)
If I am at a restaurant in France and I want the waiter to bring the bill...
Do you say "L'addition s'il vous plait, Monsieur/Madame"
Or is there a different way to say it? We used the above here in Canada but is it the same in France?
I speak French as my main language here in New Brunswick but it is Acadian French and I don't want to muck it up while in France.
Any other tips on saying there that would help?
In London I had to know not to ask for a Napkin at a meal or to ask about an elevator because it's a lift...
Thanks for any help.
Do you say "L'addition s'il vous plait, Monsieur/Madame"
Or is there a different way to say it? We used the above here in Canada but is it the same in France?
I speak French as my main language here in New Brunswick but it is Acadian French and I don't want to muck it up while in France.
Any other tips on saying there that would help?
In London I had to know not to ask for a Napkin at a meal or to ask about an elevator because it's a lift...
Thanks for any help.
May 5th, 2005, 05:39 PM
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For over thirty years, and in over 50 countries, I have looked at the waiter(ess) with left palm up and made a writing motion with the right hand and have gotten an friendly acknowledgement followed by a bill.
Rich
May 5th, 2005, 06:30 PM
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No need to introduce yourself as NB Acadian when your name is Gaudet! I was in Moncton just last week, with colleagues Sandra Gaudet...and Tim Gaudet and....
L'addition is perfectly correct. La note, likewise.
"La douleureuse" is a very arch way of referring to the bill.
L'addition is perfectly correct. La note, likewise.
"La douleureuse" is a very arch way of referring to the bill.
May 6th, 2005, 11:35 PM
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PatrickLondon,
Your reply reminds of a true story. My father's French was not the best in the world. He walked into a quincaillerie to ask for "deux douilles" but asked for "deux andouilles." At which point the owner called out the names of his wife and daughter, saying "venez vite, quelqu'un veut vous voir."
Your reply reminds of a true story. My father's French was not the best in the world. He walked into a quincaillerie to ask for "deux douilles" but asked for "deux andouilles." At which point the owner called out the names of his wife and daughter, saying "venez vite, quelqu'un veut vous voir."
May 7th, 2005, 12:18 PM
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Hmmm...sounds amazingly like Rich's post from a couple of days ago!
For over thirty years, and in over 50 countries, I have looked at the waiter(ess) with left palm up and made a writing motion with the right hand and have gotten an friendly acknowledgement followed by a bill.
For over thirty years, and in over 50 countries, I have looked at the waiter(ess) with left palm up and made a writing motion with the right hand and have gotten an friendly acknowledgement followed by a bill.
May 7th, 2005, 01:21 PM
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Interesting post, because I've wondered the same thing.
On our trip to Paris in 2001, I was asking the concierge at our hotel (a very young, trendy guy) for the best words to use when asking for the check, since I was a little rusty on my French.
I remember saying I knew both "la note" and "l'addition", and I remember him having a really strong preference for one and a really negative reaction to the other. In fact, he said, in his broken English, "Oh, never say ____. It is.... considered a little... vulgar."
Of course, I can't remember which of the two he shied me away from.
From this post, it would seem that both versions are appropriate. Or maybe he was sharing with me some subtle colloquial nuance or letting me in on some trendy waiter's tip. Or maybe he was just pulling my leg. I dunno.
Our recent trip to Paris in September, we never even had to deal with it because we, sadly, couldn't make it to a single restaurant.
On our trip to Paris in 2001, I was asking the concierge at our hotel (a very young, trendy guy) for the best words to use when asking for the check, since I was a little rusty on my French.
I remember saying I knew both "la note" and "l'addition", and I remember him having a really strong preference for one and a really negative reaction to the other. In fact, he said, in his broken English, "Oh, never say ____. It is.... considered a little... vulgar."
Of course, I can't remember which of the two he shied me away from.
From this post, it would seem that both versions are appropriate. Or maybe he was sharing with me some subtle colloquial nuance or letting me in on some trendy waiter's tip. Or maybe he was just pulling my leg. I dunno.
Our recent trip to Paris in September, we never even had to deal with it because we, sadly, couldn't make it to a single restaurant.
