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Questions & Answers about Möchtest du bar bezahlen?
What is the meaning of bar in Möchtest du bar bezahlen?
bar means in cash. It’s an adverb of manner that tells you how you want to pay, so bar bezahlen literally means “to pay in cash.”
Why is bezahlen placed at the end of the question?
Because möchten is a modal verb. In German main clauses with a modal verb, the finite verb (möchtest) goes in position 1 for questions, the subject (du) follows, other elements come next, and the infinitive (bezahlen) is pushed to the end:
- Möchtest
- du
- bar
- bezahlen
What’s the difference between Möchtest du and Willst du?
- Möchtest du (“would you like”) uses Konjunktiv II of mögen and sounds more polite or tentative.
- Willst du (“do you want”) uses the present of wollen and can sound more direct or even blunt in some contexts.
Can I use zahlen instead of bezahlen, and is there a nuance?
Yes—bar zahlen is just as common as bar bezahlen.
- bezahlen is strictly transitive (you pay something off).
- zahlen can be intransitive or take a preposition.
In everyday usage, though, bar zahlen ≈ bar bezahlen.
Why don’t we need to mention die Rechnung or “the bill” explicitly?
German often drops obvious objects when the context is clear. Here, “the bill” or “your purchase” is understood, so bar bezahlen suffices without adding die Rechnung.
How could I answer this question in German?
Positive answer examples:
- Ja, gerne.
- Ja, bar bitte.
- Ich möchte bar bezahlen.
If you prefer to pay by card:
- Nein, mit Karte bitte.
- Nein, ich zahle mit Karte.
How would you ask this question formally?
Switch du to Sie and adjust the verb:
- Möchten Sie bar bezahlen?
What are some alternative ways to ask the same thing?
- Zahlen Sie bar?
- Kann ich bar zahlen? (if you’re the customer asking the cashier)
- Bezahlen Sie bar?
- Nehmen Sie Bargeld? (less common but possible)