French Phrase
Le pourboire est inclus ?
Meaning
Literally “Is the tip included?” The speaker is asking whether the gratuity has already been added to the price, such as on a restaurant bill or a taxi receipt.
When to use
Use this question when you receive a bill and want to confirm whether the service charge (tip) is already part of the total. It’s common in restaurants, cafés, taxis, and hotels, especially when you’re not sure about local tipping customs.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lepourboireestinclus?
Le (definite article)
Masculine singular definite article used before a noun that is known to the listener.
pourboire (noun)
Masculine noun meaning “tip” or “gratuity”.
est (être)
Third‑person singular present of the verb être, used here as a copula.
inclus (past participle as adjective)
Past participle of inclure, used adjectivally and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (masculine singular → inclus).
Yes‑/No question without inversion
In spoken French a simple declarative sentence can become a question by raising intonation; the written form adds a question mark.
🗨In Conversation
Le pourboire est inclus ?
Is the tip included?
Oui, le service est compris dans le prix.
Yes, the service is included in the price.
✕Common Mistakes
Le pourboire est inclu ?
The past participle must agree with the masculine singular noun "pourboire", so it needs the final –s.
Les pourboire est inclus ?
"Pourboire" is singular here; the article should be "Le" not "Les" unless you’re talking about multiple tips.
Le pourboire est incluses ?
The adjective must match the gender of "pourboire" (masculine). "Incluses" is feminine plural.
↔Alternatives
Le service est‑il compris ?
Is the service included?
Le pourboire est‑il compris ?
Is the tip included?
Le pourboire est déjà inclus ?
Is the tip already included?
Cultural Tip
In France, a service charge (service compris) is usually already included in the menu price, so a separate tip is not obligatory. However, it’s polite to leave a small extra amount (a few euros or rounding up) in tourist‑heavy areas or upscale restaurants. Asking "Le pourboire est inclus ?" shows you’re aware of the custom and want to avoid over‑tipping.