Language/Czech/Vocabulary/Asking-for-the-Bill-and-Tipping

Czech Vocabulary → At the Restaurant → Asking for the Bill and Tipping

As a Czech language teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to introduce you to the topic of asking for the bill and tipping in Czech restaurants. In this lesson, we will cover the essential Czech vocabulary you need to know to pay for your meal and leave gratuity.

Czech Vocabulary for Asking for the Bill

When you are ready to finish your meal and would like to ask for the bill, simply raise your hand to get the waiter or waitress’s attention and say:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
Zaplatím, prosím.	[ˈzap.lat.iːm ˈpro.sɪm]	I’ll pay, please.

Other phrases you can use to ask for the bill include:

• Mohu dostat účet, prosím? (May I have the bill, please?)
• Prosím, můžete mi přinést účet? (Could you bring me the bill, please?)

Czech Vocabulary for Tipping

Tipping in Czech Republic is not mandatory, but if you are satisfied with the service, it is customary to leave a small tip of 10% to 15%. To calculate the tip, you can say:

Czech	Pronunciation	English
Deset procent.	[ˈdɛ.sɛt ˈpro.t͡sɛnt]	Ten percent.

If you want to leave more or less than the 10% to 15% suggested amount, you can simply state the percentage amount you would like to leave, such as:

• Patnáct procent. (Fifteen percent.)
• Dvacet procent. (Twenty percent.)
• Padesát korun. (Fifty crowns.)

In some restaurants, the tip may already be included in the bill, so it’s always a good idea to check before leaving extra.

Cultural Information and Interesting Facts

In Czech Republic, it is polite to round up your bill to the nearest whole number, or to the nearest ten if you are especially satisfied with the service. For example, if your bill comes to 246 Czech crowns, it is customary to round up to 250.

It is also worth noting that while tipping is appreciated, it is not as common to tip for drinks at a bar as it is in some other countries. In addition, tipping in other situations, such as for taxi rides or hairdressers, is not expected in Czech culture, but it is appreciated if you would like to show your appreciation for good service.

Practice Sentences

To help you practice using the vocabulary from this lesson, here are some sample sentences you can use in a restaurant setting:

• Můžete mi přinést účet, prosím? (Could you bring me the bill, please?)
• Líbila se mi obsluha, takže nechám 15 % spropitné. (I liked the service, so I’ll leave a 15% tip.)
• Zaplatím kartou, prosím. (I’ll pay with a card, please.)

Sources

• Czech cuisine
• Tipping

Table of Contents - Czech Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Alphabet and Pronunciation

• Consonants
• Vowels
• Accents and Special Characters

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Introduction to Nouns
• Personal Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Introduction to Verbs
• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Introduction to Adjectives
• Introduction to Adverbs
• Comparative and Superlative Forms

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Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings and Farewells
• Asking for and Giving Information
• Small Talk and Expressing Likes and Dislikes

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At the Restaurant

• Ordering Food
• Asking for the Bill and Tipping
• Dining Etiquette

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Daily Life

• Shopping
• Transportation
• Health and Medical Emergencies

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History and Traditions

• History and Czech Lands
• Festivals and Celebrations
• Czech Cuisine

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Art and Heritage

• Czech Literature
• Architecture and Landmark
• Czech Film and Music

Related Lessons

• Greetings and Farewells
• Education
• Family
• Ordering Food
• Maps
• Beverages
• Things
• Numbers
• Election
• Shapes