Foundation · Finance

Paying & splitting bills

Your goal: ask for the bill, split the cost with others, and pay using cards or apps. Essential social and financial vocabulary.

1

Survival Phrases

At a restaurant/shop

  • Could I have the bill, please?
  • Do you accept card?
  • Can we split the bill?

Splitting with friends

  • Let's split the bill 50/50.
  • I can pay for it now and you can send me your share.
  • What is your bank/app details?
2

Model Dialogue

Customer: Could I have the bill, please?

Waiter: Sure. That's £40, please.

Customer: Can we split the bill?

Waiter: Of course. How would you like to split it?

Customer: £20 each, please.

3

Register: formal vs informal

SituationFormal (Restaurant/Staff)Casual (With friends)
Asking for billCould we have the check/bill?Can we pay, please?
SplittingIs it possible to pay separately?Let's split the bill.
4

Typical Mistakes

  • We want to part the bill. → We want to split the bill.
  • You pay your part. → You can pay your share.
5

Culture Note

  • Service Charge: In many UK/US restaurants, a "service charge" (tip) is automatically added to the bill. Check the bottom of the bill before adding more!
6

Practical Task

  1. Simulate. Practice asking for the bill and saying how you want to split it.
  • ☐ask for the bill?
  • ☐ask to split the bill?