zahlen
to pay
To give money for goods or services received, or to settle a debt.
EXAMPLE
Können wir bitte zahlen? Wir würden gerne gehen.
Can we please pay? We'd like to leave.
zahlen
to pay
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Meanings
sich auszahlen
to pay off
To be worthwhile; to bring a positive effect or profit, often after effort or investment.
EXAMPLE
Das viele Lernen vor der Prüfung hat sich wirklich ausgezahlt.
All that studying before the exam really paid off.
zahlen für
to pay for
To have to bear the negative consequences of a mistake or a wrong decision.
EXAMPLE
Für seine Leichtsinnigkeit musste er am Ende teuer zahlen.
In the end, he had to pay dearly for his carelessness.
zahlen
to pay
As an employer, to give someone a salary or wage.
EXAMPLE
Diese Firma zahlt ihren Angestellten überdurchschnittlich gut.
This company pays its employees above average.
Usage tips
Context clue
The basic meaning of 'zahlen' (to pay) refers to money. The reflexive form 'sich auszahlen' (to pay off) is always figurative and means 'sich lohnen' (to be worthwhile). 'Für etwas zahlen' (to pay for something) can also figuratively refer to negative consequences.
EXAMPLE
Ich zahle die Rechnung.
I pay the bill.
What for and with what?
To express what you are paying for, you use the preposition 'für' with the accusative. The payment method is expressed with 'mit' or 'in'.
EXAMPLE
Ich zahle für den Kaffee.
I pay for the coffee.
Use in restaurants
When you want to ask for the bill in a restaurant or café, the short sentence 'Zahlen, bitte!' (The bill, please! / We'd like to pay, please!) is a very common and natural phrase.
EXAMPLE
Entschuldigung, wir möchten bitte zahlen.
Excuse me, we'd like to pay, please.
Separable verb
In the meaning 'sich lohnen' (to be worthwhile), 'sich auszahlen' (to pay off) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'aus' stands at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Die lange Vorbereitung auf den Marathon hat sich ausgezahlt.
The long preparation for the marathon paid off.
Figurative meaning
In this figurative meaning, it is not about money but about bearing negative consequences. It is often combined with adverbs or phrases like 'teuer' (dearly) or 'eines Tages' (one day).
EXAMPLE
Für seine Arroganz musste er einen hohen Preis zahlen.
He had to pay a high price for his arrogance.
Compare with
zahlen vs bezahlen
to pay
When paying for goods or services, both verbs are possible. Bezahlen often takes the bill, the goods, or the service as its object and thus emphasizes what the money is being paid for; zahlen focuses more on the payment itself. Use bezahlen with the object of payment and zahlen when the payment process is the focus.
zahlen
An der Kasse zahle ich sofort mit meiner Karte.
At the checkout, I pay immediately with my card.
bezahlen
An der Kasse bezahle ich die Rechnung für den Einkauf.
At the checkout, I pay the bill for my purchases.
In real life
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