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German Phrase

Ich zahle mit Karte.

/ɪç ˈtsaːlə mɪt ˈkaʁtə/
Meaning"I pay with a card."
💡

Meaning

The speaker tells the listener that the chosen method of payment is a card (credit, debit, or EC‑card) rather than cash or another option.

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When to use

Use this sentence at shops, cafés, restaurants, ticket counters, or any place where you need to indicate how you will settle the bill.

✦Grammar Breakdown

IchzahlemitKarte

1

Subject pronoun

Ich is the first‑person singular pronoun and triggers the verb ending –e in the present tense.

2

Verb conjugation

zahlen → ich zahle (present); the stem is zahl‑ and the ending –e marks ich.

3

Preposition mit + dative

Mit always governs the dative case; the noun “Karte” is feminine, so the dative form is “der Karte”. In set phrases the article is often omitted: “mit Karte”.

4

Noun gender & case

Karte is feminine (die Karte). In the dative it becomes “der Karte”, but the article can be dropped in colloquial speech.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wie möchten Sie bezahlen?

How would you like to pay?

Ich zahle mit Karte.

I’ll pay with a card.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich zahle mit die Karte.

    The article must be dative; “die” is nominative/accusative.

  • Ich zahle mit dem Karte.

    “Karte” is feminine, so the dative article is “der”, not “dem”.

  • Ich zahl mit Karte.

    The verb needs the -e ending for ich in the present tense.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich bezahle mit Karte.

    I pay with a card.

  • Ich zahle mit meiner Karte.

    I’ll pay with my card.

  • Ich zahle bar.

    I’ll pay in cash.

de

Cultural Tip

In Germany most supermarkets and larger restaurants accept both the EC‑Girocard and major credit cards, but many small family‑run places still prefer cash. When you use a card, you’ll usually be asked to insert it into a terminal and enter your PIN. Saying “mit Karte” is perfectly natural; adding the article (mit der Karte) sounds a bit more formal.