French Phrase
On peut avoir l'addition ?
Meaning
Literally ‘Can we have the bill?’, this phrase is a courteous way to ask a waiter or waitress to bring the check after a meal. It is informal but still polite, especially when spoken with a friendly tone.
When to use
Use it at the end of a restaurant, café, or bistro visit when you’re ready to pay. It works well in casual settings or when you’re with friends; in more formal contexts you might add ‘s’il vous plaît’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onpeutavoirl'addition?
On (impersonal pronoun)
‘On’ is an indefinite pronoun that can mean ‘we’, ‘one’, or ‘people in general’; in casual speech it often replaces ‘nous’.
Pouvoir (present tense)
‘Peut’ is the third‑person singular present of the modal verb ‘pouvoir’, used to ask for permission or possibility.
Infinitive after modal
After a modal verb like ‘pouvoir’, the following verb stays in the infinitive (here ‘avoir’).
Elision of le → l’
‘Le’ contracts to ‘l’ before a vowel or mute ‘h’; ‘l’addition’ is the correct form.
Polite question intonation
In spoken French, a rising intonation at the end signals a polite request; the written question mark reinforces this.
🗨In Conversation
On peut avoir l'addition ?
Can we have the bill?
Bien sûr, je vous l'apporte tout de suite.
Of course, I’ll bring it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
On peut avoir le addition ?
‘Le’ must elide before a vowel; use ‘l’’ instead of ‘le’.
On peut avoir l'addition ? s'il vous plaît.
The phrase is fine, but placing ‘s’il vous plaît’ after the question mark is incorrect punctuation.
Nous peut avoir l'addition ?
The verb must agree with the subject; use ‘pouvons’ with ‘nous’. Correct: ‘Nous pouvons avoir l'addition ?’
↔Alternatives
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
The bill, please.
Est‑ce que je peux avoir l'addition ?
Could I have the bill?
Nous voudrions l'addition.
We would like the bill.
Cultural Tip
In France it’s common to say ‘s’il vous plaît’ when asking for the check, but a simple ‘On peut avoir l'addition ?’ is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation. Raising your hand slightly or making eye contact with the server also signals that you’re ready to pay. Avoid shouting or demanding the bill; politeness is key.