Palun arve!
The bill, please!
Phrase in 30 Seconds
The essential Estonian phrase to politely request your check at a restaurant or cafe.
- Means: 'The bill, please!'
- Used in: Restaurants, cafes, bars, and pubs.
- Don't confuse: 'Arve' (bill) with 'Arv' (number).
Explanation at your level:
Significado
Used in restaurants to request the check.
Contexto cultural
In Estonia, it is considered polite to wait for the waiter to come near your table before asking for the bill. Waving your hands frantically is seen as rude. Like its Nordic neighbors, Estonia is almost entirely cashless. Even when you ask for the 'arve', the waiter will likely bring a card machine immediately. Splitting the bill (eraldi) is very common among friends and even on dates. Don't be surprised if the waiter asks 'Together or separately?' before you even say anything. Tipping is not built into the bill. If you want to tip, you usually add it to the card payment or leave cash on the table after the 'arve' has been settled.
Eye Contact
In Estonia, catching the waiter's eye and giving a small nod is the best way to signal you're ready for the bill.
Don't Snap
Never snap your fingers to get a waiter's attention in Estonia; it's considered very rude.
Significado
Used in restaurants to request the check.
Eye Contact
In Estonia, catching the waiter's eye and giving a small nod is the best way to signal you're ready for the bill.
Don't Snap
Never snap your fingers to get a waiter's attention in Estonia; it's considered very rude.
Card First
If you want to pay by card, you can say 'Kaardiga, palun' while they bring the bill to save a trip.
The Magic Word
Remember that 'Palun' is used for everything. Use it often and you'll always sound polite.
Teste-se
You are finished with your meal in a Tallinn restaurant. What do you say to the waiter?
...
'Arve' is the bill. 'Pilet' is a ticket, 'Menüü' is the menu, and 'Tere' is hello.
Complete the polite request for the bill.
Kas ma ______ arve?
'Saaksin' is the conditional 'could I get', making the request more polite.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You want to pay separately from your friend.
'Eraldi' means separately.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
Waiter: Kas te soovite veel midagi? Learner: Ei, aitäh. _________.
When you don't want anything else, you usually ask for the bill.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Where to use 'Palun arve!'
Places
- • Restoran
- • Kohvik
- • Pubi
- • Baar
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, it's the standard way to ask. Adding 'vabandust' at the start makes it even softer.
No, 'Palun' already means please. You don't need to add anything else.
Usually no, shops have registers where the total is shown automatically.
Just say 'Palun üks arve' or 'Ma maksan kõige eest'.
You can say 'See on teile' (This is for you) or 'Tagasi pole vaja' (No need for change).
Mostly yes, but 'arve' is the proper Estonian word, while 'tšekk' is more casual.
It's a cultural norm in Estonia to offer split checks for every group.
Usually when you are ready to leave. It's fine to have a half-full glass.
In the short phrase 'Palun arve', use 'arve'. In a full sentence like 'Ma palun arvet', use 'arvet'.
Yes, it works perfectly at a bar too.
Frases relacionadas
Kas ma saaksin maksta?
similarCan I pay?
Tšekk, palun!
synonymCheck, please!
Kas saaks eraldi?
specialized formCan we pay separately?
Jootraha
relatedTip
Kviitung
relatedReceipt
Onde usar
Casual Cafe
Learner: Palun arve!
Waiter: Muidugi, kas maksate kaardiga?
Fine Dining
Learner: Vabandust, kas me saaksime arve?
Waiter: Loomulikult, ma toon selle teile kohe.
Splitting with Friends
Learner: Palun arve. Kas saaks eraldi?
Waiter: Jah, kuidas te jagate?
In a Hurry
Learner: Palun arve, meil on kiire!
Waiter: Sain aru, toon kohe terminali.
At a Bar
Learner: Arve, palun!
Bartender: Viis eurot, palun.
Business Lunch
Learner: Palun arve ettevõtte nimele.
Waiter: Kas soovite seda paberil või e-arvena?
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'Palun' as 'Pardon' and 'Arve' as 'Archive' (where you keep your receipts). 'Pardon, the archive!'
Visual Association
Imagine a waiter holding a giant calculator (Arve) and you are bowing politely (Palun) to it.
Rhyme
Sööki sai parve, nüüd palun arve! (Got a flock of food, now the bill please!)
Story
You are in a medieval Tallinn tavern. You've eaten your fill of bear meat. You stand up, bow to the merchant, and say 'Palun arve!' He counts the coins on his wooden table.
Word Web
Desafio
Next time you go to a cafe, don't use English. Even if the waiter speaks English, look them in the eye and say 'Palun arve!'
In Other Languages
La cuenta, por favor.
Spanish uses the definite article 'la', whereas Estonian often omits it in this short phrase.
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.
French is more formal with 's'il vous plaît' compared to the versatile 'palun'.
Die Rechnung, bitte!
German requires the article 'Die' more strictly than Estonian.
O-kanjo o onegaishimasu.
Japanese uses honorifics (O-) and a more complex verb for 'please'.
Al-hisab, min fadlak.
The phrase for 'please' in Arabic is more flowery than 'palun'.
Mǎidān!
Estonian is a request (please bill), while Chinese is more of an action statement.
Gyesanseo juseyo.
Korean explicitly uses the verb 'to give' (juseyo).
A conta, por favor.
Pronunciation and the use of the feminine article 'A'.
Easily Confused
Learners don't know if they should use 'arve' or 'arvet'.
Both are okay, but 'arve' is the standard short request.
Missing the 'e' at the end.
Remember 'arve' is for the bill, 'arv' is just a number.
Perguntas frequentes (10)
No, it's the standard way to ask. Adding 'vabandust' at the start makes it even softer.
No, 'Palun' already means please. You don't need to add anything else.
Usually no, shops have registers where the total is shown automatically.
Just say 'Palun üks arve' or 'Ma maksan kõige eest'.
You can say 'See on teile' (This is for you) or 'Tagasi pole vaja' (No need for change).
Mostly yes, but 'arve' is the proper Estonian word, while 'tšekk' is more casual.
It's a cultural norm in Estonia to offer split checks for every group.
Usually when you are ready to leave. It's fine to have a half-full glass.
In the short phrase 'Palun arve', use 'arve'. In a full sentence like 'Ma palun arvet', use 'arvet'.
Yes, it works perfectly at a bar too.
