Learn Russian: Возьмите чек, пожалуйста.

Возьмите is the polite or plural command form of "to take". Since the verb stem ends in a consonant (возьм-) and the stress falls on the ending, we add -ите for formal situations, like a cashier talking to a customer. If you were handing this to a close friend, you would drop the -те and just say Возьми.

What is the dictionary form (infinitive) of Возьмите? It looks so different!

The dictionary form is взять (to take). Russian verbs often change their stems when conjugated. To find the command form, we look at the "they" form of the verb (возьмут - they will take), drop the -ут ending, and add our imperative endings to the remaining возьм- stem.

Why didn't the word чек change its ending? Isn't it the direct object receiving the action?

Yes, чек (receipt) is the direct object, which means it is in the Accusative case. However, because it is a masculine, inanimate noun (a thing, not a living person or animal), its Accusative form looks exactly the same as its basic dictionary form.

How is пожалуйста pronounced in everyday speech?