A1 Expression Neutral

Regningen, tak

The bill, please

Phrase in 30 Seconds

Use this phrase to politely ask for your bill at a restaurant in Denmark.

  • Means: 'The bill, please.'
  • Used in: Restaurants, cafes, and bars when you are ready to leave.
  • Don't confuse: 'Regningen' (the bill) with 'Regnen' (the rain).
Hungry face + Full stomach + 'Regningen, tak' = Happy departure

Explanation at your level:

This is a simple phrase to ask for the bill at a restaurant. Use it when you are finished eating.
In Denmark, waiters do not bring the bill automatically. You must use this phrase to signal that you are ready to pay and leave the restaurant.
The phrase 'Regningen, tak' is the standard, polite way to request the check. It combines the definite noun 'regningen' with the essential politeness marker 'tak', reflecting the Danish preference for low-pressure service environments.
While 'Regningen, tak' is sufficient, understanding the underlying social contract is key. In Danish culture, the restaurant table is considered the guest's private space until they explicitly invite the staff to conclude the service by requesting the bill.
The linguistic structure relies on the definite article suffix '-en' to specify the bill. Pragmatically, this functions as a speech act that terminates the dining service. It is a quintessential example of how Danish social interactions prioritize autonomy and non-intrusive service.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, 'Regningen, tak' exemplifies the Danish 'hygge' culture, where the pace of service is dictated by the patron rather than the establishment. The phrase is a minimalist, efficient, and culturally embedded tool that maintains the balance between service efficiency and social comfort.

Bedeutung

Asking to pay at a restaurant.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Danes value their privacy at the table. Waiters will not interrupt you.

💡

Pronunciation

The Danish 'r' is guttural.

Bedeutung

Asking to pay at a restaurant.

💡

Pronunciation

The Danish 'r' is guttural.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the correct word.

______, tak.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Regningen

Regningen is the correct definite form.

🎉 Ergebnis: /1

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Häufig gestellte Fragen

1 Fragen

Tipping is not expected in Denmark.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔗

Må jeg bede om regningen?

specialized form

May I ask for the bill?

Wo du es verwendest

☕

Casual Cafe

You: Regningen, tak.

Waiter: Selvfølgelig.

neutral

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Reg' (a person) who is 'ning' (needing) to pay.

Visual Association

Imagine a waiter standing by your table holding a small leather folder. You smile and say 'Regningen, tak'.

Rhyme

For the bill, don't be a blank, just say Regningen, tak.

Story

You finish your smørrebrød. You feel full. You look at the waiter. You say 'Regningen, tak'. The waiter smiles and brings the check.

Word Web

regningbetaletjenermaddrikketakrestaurant

Herausforderung

Next time you order food, practice saying it in your head before the waiter arrives.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

La cuenta, por favor

Danish uses the definite article suffix.

French high

L'addition, s'il vous plaît

French uses 's'il vous plaît' instead of 'tak'.

German high

Die Rechnung, bitte

German uses 'bitte' instead of 'tak'.

Japanese moderate

Okaikei onegaishimasu

Japanese uses honorifics.

Arabic moderate

Al-hisab, min fadlak

Arabic uses 'min fadlak'.

Chinese moderate

Mǎidān, qǐng

Chinese uses a verb-object structure.

Korean moderate

Gyesanseo juseyo

Korean uses a verb 'give'.

Portuguese high

A conta, por favor

Portuguese uses 'por favor'.

Easily Confused

Regningen, tak vs. Regnen

Sounds like 'regningen'.

Regningen has an extra 'g' and 'n'.

FAQ (1)

Tipping is not expected in Denmark.

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