#53 Confirming Contract Terms｜French Business Conversation
Izumi Curious French
#181 Offering to Pay the Bill｜French Dining Phrases
Izumi
After enjoying a meal at a restaurant with colleagues, friends, or acquaintances, you may find yourself in a situation where you want to offer to pay the bill and say, “I’ll take care of it this time.”
In French, there are several ways to offer to pay, and the impression can change significantly depending on how you phrase it. It is important to choose expressions that do not sound too forceful and that allow you to make the offer naturally and politely.
Here, I will explain useful French expressions for offering to pay for a meal, following the natural flow of a real conversation.
Contents
Dialogue
C’était vraiment un bon repas.
（That was really a great meal.）
Oui, je suis d’accord.
（Yes, I agree.）
Laissez-moi payer cette fois.
（Please let me pay this time.）
Oh, ce n’est pas nécessaire, on peut partager.
（Oh, that’s not necessary. We can split the bill.）
Non, j’insiste. C’est pour te remercier.
（No, I insist. It’s to thank you.）
D’accord, merci beaucoup.
（Alright, thank you very much.）
Avec plaisir.
（My pleasure.）
1. Offering to Pay
When you offer to pay, I recommend expressing it in a natural way that does not sound pushy.
Example
- Laissez-moi payer cette fois.
（Please let me pay this time.）
The structure “laissez-moi + verb” means “please let me …” and is a modest and polite way to make an offer.
Adding “cette fois” (this time) creates the nuance that this is a one-time offer, which often makes it easier for the other person to accept.
Related Expression
- C’est moi qui paie.
（I’ll pay.）
This is more casual and is often used among friends.
2. When the Other Person Hesitates
When you offer to pay, the other person may hesitate out of politeness.
Example
- Ce n’est pas nécessaire, on peut partager.
（That’s not necessary. We can split the bill.）
The phrase “Ce n’est pas nécessaire” is a polite way to decline. It sounds softer and more natural than directly saying “Non.”
The verb “partager” means “to share”, and in dining situations it is commonly used to mean splitting the bill.
3. Offering Again with a Reason
Depending on the situation and relationship, the first refusal is often just a polite gesture rather than a firm rejection.
If you want to offer again, I suggest adding a reason instead of simply repeating the same expression.
Example
- Non, j’insiste. C’est pour te remercier.
（No, I insist. It’s to thank you.）
The phrase “j’insiste” literally means “I insist,” but in everyday conversation it often has a softer meaning, closer to “Please, I really mean it.”
In “c’est pour te remercier”, the structure “pour + infinitive” expresses purpose (“in order to …”).
The verb “remercier + person” means “to thank someone.” In French, object pronouns must be placed before the infinitive, which is why “te” appears before “remercier.”
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Laissez-moi payer cette fois.
→ A polite way to offer to pay. - Ce n’est pas nécessaire / On peut partager.
→ Common expressions when someone politely declines and suggests splitting the bill. - J’insiste. C’est pour te remercier.
→ Used to offer again while giving a reason.
