Money & Exchange

1. How much does this cost?

   haʊ mʌtʃ dʌz ðɪs kɔːst

   Usage

   The most basic way to ask the price of an item; point at the item while speaking

   Grammar Note

   "How much is this?" is equally common. "What's the price?" is slightly more formal

2. Do you accept credit cards?

   duː juː əkˈsɛpt ˈkrɛdɪt kɑːrdz

   Usage

   Used to check payment options; smaller or local shops may be cash-only

   Grammar Note

   "Do you take ~?" is a common alternative. "Is it cash only?" checks for no card option

3. Can I have the bill, please?

   kæn aɪ hæv ðə bɪl pliːz

   Usage

   Requests the bill at a restaurant; "bill" is British English, "check" is American English

   Grammar Note

   US: "Check, please" / UK: "Could we have the bill?" — both are well understood globally

4. Do you have change for a fifty?

   duː juː hæv tʃeɪndʒ fɔːr ə ˈfɪfti

   Usage

   Used when you need a large bill broken into smaller denominations

   Grammar Note

   Colloquially, bill denominations are used as nouns (a twenty, a hundred). "Could you break a fifty?" is polite

5. Is the tip included?

   ɪz ðə tɪp ɪnˈkluːdɪd

   Usage

   Important in tipping cultures like the US; service charges may be added separately

   Grammar Note

   "Is service charge included?" is equivalent. In the US, 15-20% is a standard tip

6. Where is the nearest ATM?

   wɛr ɪz ðə ˈnɪrɪst eɪ tiː ɛm

   Usage

   Used when you need cash; "cash machine" (general) and "cashpoint" (British) are synonyms

   Grammar Note

   "nearest" = "closest". "Is there an ATM nearby?" is an equally natural alternative

7. Can you give me a discount?

   kæn juː ɡɪv miː ə ˈdɪskaʊnt

   Usage

   Used to negotiate a lower price; effective in markets but not always in fixed-price shops

   Grammar Note

   "Could you lower the price?" or "Any flexibility on the price?" are politer negotiation phrases

8. I'd like to split the bill.

   aɪd laɪk tuː splɪt ðə bɪl

   Usage

   Used when dining with others and wanting to pay separately; "go Dutch" means the same thing

   Grammar Note

   "Can we have separate bills?" asks for individual checks from the start of the meal

9. What's the exchange rate?

   wɑːts ðɪ ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ reɪt

   Usage

   Used at exchange bureaus or banks; knowing the rate beforehand prevents being overcharged

   Grammar Note

   You can also ask "How much is one dollar in [currency]?" for a specific conversion

10. Keep the change.

    kiːp ðə tʃeɪndʒ

    Usage

    Said when giving the extra as a tip; common with taxi drivers and restaurant staff

    Grammar Note

    A short imperative phrase that conveys the message clearly. "That's for you" is an alternative

11. Deposit

    dɪˈpɑːzɪt

    Usage

    A refundable deposit paid at check-in for hotels or rentals

12. Refund

    ˈriːfʌnd

    Usage

    Used when asking for money to be returned

13. Security deposit

    sɪˈkjʊrɪti dɪˈpɑːzɪt

    Usage

    A more formal security deposit, used for rentals or leases

14. Prepayment

    ˌpriːˈpeɪmənt

    Usage

    Used to indicate money paid in advance, e.g. at booking

15. Extra charge

    ˈɛkstrə tʃɑːrdʒ

    Usage

    Used to indicate an additional charge added later

16. Service fee

    ˈsɜːrvɪs fiː

    Usage

    Used to indicate a fee charged for a service or procedure

17. Cash

    kæʃ

    Usage

    Shows that you want to pay in cash

18. Card

    kɑːrd

    Usage

    Means a credit or debit card; the word alone can mean any card, so show it at the till as a payment method

19. Separate bills

    ˈsɛpərət bɪlz

    Usage

    For splitting the payment; the US says "separate checks"

20. One bill together

    wʌn bɪl təˈɡɛðər

    Usage

    Shows that everything should go on a single bill

21. Change

    tʃeɪndʒ

    Usage

    The money handed back; "change" also means to alter something or loose coins, so show it as you hand over the money

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