German Phrase
Bist du bereit zu zahlen?
Meaning
Literally ‘Are you ready to pay?’, this sentence asks whether the listener is prepared to hand over money. It’s often used right before a transaction, at a restaurant, shop, or during a negotiation.
When to use
Use it when you want to confirm that someone is willing to settle the bill or make a payment, especially after a service has been provided or an agreement has been reached.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bistdubereitzuzahlen?
Verb 'sein' (2nd person singular)
‘Bist’ is the present tense form of ‘sein’ for ‘du’, used to form questions with inversion.
Adjective ‘bereit’ with ‘sein’
‘bereit’ (ready) is commonly paired with ‘sein’ to express willingness or preparation.
'zu' + infinitive
When an adjective like ‘bereit’ is followed by a verb, the infinitive is introduced with ‘zu’ (e.g., ‘zu zahlen’).
Question word order
In yes‑no questions, the finite verb moves to the first position, followed by the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Bist du bereit zu zahlen?
Are you ready to pay?
Ja, hier ist meine Karte.
Yes, here’s my card.
✕Common Mistakes
Bist du bereit zahlen?
Missing ‘zu’ before the infinitive; German requires ‘zu’ after ‘bereit’ when followed by a verb.
Bist du zu bereit zu zahlen?
Incorrect word order; ‘zu’ belongs only before the infinitive, not before ‘bereit’.
Bist du bereit zu zahlen, ja?
Adding ‘ja’ at the end turns the question into a statement; use a simple question mark instead.
↔Alternatives
Möchtest du bezahlen?
Would you like to pay?
Willst du zahlen?
Do you want to pay?
Bist du bereit, zu bezahlen?
Are you ready to pay?
Sind Sie bereit zu zahlen?
Are you ready to pay? (formal)
Cultural Tip
German speakers appreciate directness, but in formal settings (restaurants, hotels) it’s polite to use the formal ‘Sie’: ‘Sind Sie bereit zu zahlen?’ or the softer ‘Möchten Sie bezahlen?’. In casual contexts among friends, the informal version is perfectly natural.