To ask in English an account in a restaurant, cafe or pub is a simple task at first glance. Despite the apparent simplicity, many Russian tourists make mistakes or simply get lost trying to find the right phrase. As a result, the majority simply translates what they want to say verbatim from the Russian language. This is called “tracing” and in most cases introduces waiters, bartenders, cashiers and other attendants into a cultural stupor.
The first thing that should be learned by a Russian tourist in an English-speaking country: the literal translation is his worst enemy. In addition, even if a tourist in the English school had only fives, he can hardly freely explain what he needs, without having learned a number of useful phrases that will be given later in this article.
How to call a waiter?
Suppose a tourist receives his order, empties his plate and is now about to ask for an invoice. Before you break your head over the phrase "Can I have an account?" in English, the restaurant needs to attract the attention of staff. A tourist recalls how he would do it in an ordinary Russian cafe:
Then, if the tourist did not look into the phrasebook and did not learn the appropriate phrases, he will certainly translate his version, familiar to Russian cafes, literally:
After which it will be long and concentrated to wonder why the waitress was offended / angry / burst into tears / slapped him in the face and was rudely put out of a decent institution.
The fact is that the above phrase is in no way suitable for communicating with attendants in a restaurant or cafe. Moreover, the only group of people for whom girl abuse is applicable are women of easy virtue. This is why tracing is the tourist's worst enemy.
You should contact the waiters or waitresses using, depending on the situation, one of the following options:
- Miss.
- Sir.
- Madam (M'am).
- Mister.
In order to attract the attention of the maintenance staff, no call is required at all - you can simply raise your hand.
How to ask for an account?
Suppose that a tourist managed to attract the attention of a waiter and did not appear to be exhibited from the establishment with a demand not to return to it. To ask for a restaurant bill in English, he can use one of several phrases of varying degrees of politeness.
If a traveler has not sat down for an English textbook for many years, he will be helped by a simple remark to remember:
If he really had five in this subject, and some knowledge from the school bench has been preserved, he may well show politeness and good breeding and ask for an account in the restaurant in English, using a more complex but more cultural phrase:
- Can I have the bill, please?
Or:
- Can I please have the bill?
If a tourist doesn’t use these phrases for some reason, for example, he has forgotten what the word “account” in a restaurant translates into English, he may well use another phrase that does not contain a direct request:
- I would like to pay now, please (I would like to pay / pay now).
In addition, an invoice will certainly be brought to him if he asks how much his order is worth.
To ask for an English bill in a restaurant or cafe, the following option will be a little more familiar:
In addition, the tourist may ask how much he owes. In English there is a phrase for this, almost analogous to Russian:
Of these phrases, it is entirely possible to choose only the ones you like, but it will be much more efficient to learn them all. Just in case.
How to report a bug?
Having received the bill, the tourist will certainly carefully study it. And it is possible that he will find in him an error or inaccuracy, which he will definitely want to report.
Of course, in English.
- I think / guess / believe the bill is added up wrong (I think / it seems to me that the error is in the bill).
This expression is appropriate if the traveler had five not only in English, but also in mathematics, and he is absolutely sure that something is wrong with the score. If he is not sure, and there is no calculator at hand, you can formulate your complaint more politely - in the form of a question:
- Is it just me, or the bill is added up wrong?
Or even more politely:
- Are you sure the bill is added up right (are you sure there are no errors in the bill)?
Such a claim is not considered offensive or gross in cultural institutions. It only means that the tourist wants to check everything again, so that any waiter will readily explain what the tourist is going to pay for.
How to pay in the company
The traveler may well dine not alone, but with friends.
If these are not very close friends of different social status, and on the common table expensive lobsters are next to cheap vegetable salad, the following phrase will come in handy:
- We are paying separately.
Each of those present will receive a separate bill, and guests will not have to pay for other people's lobsters.
If the company is friendly, and they all eat about the same thing, the bill can be divided:
If one person has more green bills in his wallet than his companions, he may well show a goodwill gesture and pay for everyone:
- I'm paying for everything (I pay for everything / I pay for everyone)!
If you do not want to remain in debtor with anyone, offer to pay for yourself:
By the way, trying to impress the satellites (or companion), you can use the following phrase:
- Put it on my bill, please (Please write to my account).
How to ask for a check
To get a check, you can use a phrase very similar to the one with which they ask for an account.
A more polite option is slightly different:
- Can I get the check, please?
In general, to ask for a check or bill in a restaurant, some particularly complex phrases are not required.
To summarize
To ask in English in a cafe or in a restaurant is easy. If you learn the appropriate phrases, work out at home in front of the mirror and try not to worry, you can make a good impression on others, do not face the dirt and enjoy visiting a cafe or restaurant. It is important to remember that phrases from the Russian language should not be traced and do not be shy to ask for help if necessary.