German Phrase
Bitte fülle die Bestellkarte aus.
Meaning
A polite request asking someone to complete the order card. It is commonly heard in restaurants, cafés, or any setting where a customer must write down their order before service.
When to use
Use this sentence when you hand a customer a paper order form or when you need a colleague to fill out a booking or purchase form. In formal contexts replace the du‑imperative with the Sie‑form.
✦Grammar Breakdown
BittefülledieBestellkarteaus
Bitte + Imperativ
‘Bitte’ softens an imperative, making the request polite. It can be used with both du‑ and Sie‑forms.
Imperativ du‑Form
For regular verbs, drop the ‘en’ and add ‘‑e’. ‘füllen’ → ‘fülle’.
Trennbares Verb ‘ausfüllen’
In the imperative, the separable prefix ‘aus’ moves to the end of the clause: ‘fülle … aus’.
Artikel ‘die’
‘Bestellkarte’ is feminine, so it takes the definite article ‘die’ in the accusative.
🗨In Conversation
Bitte fülle die Bestellkarte aus.
Please fill out the order form.
Gern, ich mache das gleich.
Sure, I’ll do it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Bitte füll die Bestellkarte aus.
The du‑imperative of ‘füllen’ requires the ending ‘‑e’.
Bitte fülle die Bestellkarte.
The separable prefix must stay at the end; omitting it changes the meaning.
Bitte fülle die Bestellkarte aus?
A question mark turns a polite request into a question; use a period for a direct request.
↔Alternatives
Bitte füllen Sie die Bestellkarte aus.
Please fill out the order form. (formal)
Bitte das Bestellformular ausfüllen.
Please fill out the order form.
Könnten Sie bitte die Bestellkarte ausfüllen?
Could you please fill out the order form?
Cultural Tip
In German‑speaking restaurants the ‘Bestellkarte’ is often a small card where you write your dishes before the waiter comes. Using ‘Bitte’ + imperative is perfectly polite in everyday situations, but in business or with strangers the formal ‘Sie’ form is preferred. Also remember that separable verbs like ‘ausfüllen’ split in the imperative, which can trip learners.