Going Dutch

Template:Short description Template:For Template:More citations needed "Going Dutch" (sometimes written with lower-case dutch) is a term that indicates that each person participating in a paid activity covers their own expenses, rather than any one person in the group defraying the cost for the entire group. The term stems from restaurant dining etiquette in the Western world, where each person pays for their meal. It is also called Dutch date, Dutch treat (the oldest form, a pejorative),<ref name=OED>Template:Cite book</ref> and doing Dutch.

A derivative is "sharing Dutch", having a joint ownership of luxury goods. For example: four people share the ownership of a plane, boat, car, or any other sharable high-end product. This in order to minimize cost, sharing the same passion for that particular product and to have the maximum usage of this product.Template:Citation needed

Etymology

The Oxford English Dictionary connects "go Dutch" / "Dutch treat" to other phrases which have "an opprobrious or derisive application, largely due to the rivalry and enmity between the English and Dutch in the 17th century", the period of the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Another example is "Dutch courage".<ref name=OED /> A term bearing some similarities is Dutch oven.

Practices

Africa

In Egypt, it is called Template:Lang, meaning 'English-style', and traditionally is considered rude.Template:Citation needed

Americas

Template:Unreferenced section In the United States, the practice of "going Dutch" is often related to specific situations or events. During meals such as birthdays, first dates or company business lunches, an expectation develops based on social traditions, personal income, and the strength of relationship between the parties. The increase in prevalence for mobile sharing payment platforms such as Venmo or Zelle has resulted in a cultural rethinking of meal payments.Template:Citation needed

Latin America

Some Latin American countries use the Spanish phrase Template:Lang (literally 'to pay American-style').

In Chile and Uruguay, the phrase used is Template:Lang ('to make a cow'). In this case, a person is designated as the "bank" (the one who collects the money) and is reimbursed by the others. This system is used either when planning things to buy for a party, or when paying the bill in a restaurant.

In Panama, the phrase Template:Lang (or Template:Lang) Template:Lang ('half and half') is used; it refers to both "going Dutch" and to splitting the check equally.

In Guatemala, a sing-song phrase is used: "Template:Lang" (Template:Literal translation). Template:Lang is a stewed dish similar to ratatouille, and is used in this phrase as a stand-in for food in general. It is similar in Honduras, where the phrase is "Template:Lang" (Template:Literal translation). In Honduras, the word Template:Lang is commonly used to denote money, rather than the stew itself.

In El Salvador, a different rhyming phrase is used: "Template:Lang", which means 'Spartan law: each pays [for] what they eat'.

A Costa Rican system is known as Template:Lang, literally 'to go with Cuyo'—Cuyo is a placeholder name, like "John Doe" in English). If one of the diners asks "Template:Lang ('Who is Cuyo?') another may respond that he or she will pay the bill, or may suggest "cada uno con lo suyo", 'each with his own', meaning each person should pay for what they ate.

In Brazil, the slang word rachar is used for the same purpose, or when it is too expensive, the group shares the total so everyone pays the same.

In Mexico, the phrase Template:Lang, literally 'a white-tie event' is used in the context where all participants are expected to contribute, either monetarily or in kind. It is derived from the homonyms traje (a conjugation of the verb traer meaning 'I brought') and traje ('suit').

Asia

East Asia

In Japan, it is called warikan (Template:Lang), which translates into 'splitting the cost'.

In North Korea, where rigid social systems are still in place, it is most common for the person of the highest social standing, such as a boss or an elder figure, to pay the bill. This not only applies in a 1 to 1 situation but also in groups. Among the younger generation, it is quite common for friends to alternate when paying the bill, or for one to pay for dinner and another to pay for drinks.

In South Korea, "going Dutch" is called "Dutch pay" (Template:Lang), a Konglish loan phrase. For romantic dates, men usually pay.

In the People's Republic of China, after a group meal, it is expected that the bill be paid by the person who has highest social standing or highest income, or by the person who made the invitation. A group of friends or colleagues who dine together regularly will often take turns paying the bill. Men often pay for the initial romantic dates, however after several dates, it is not uncommon for women to take a turn at paying for dates. It is not uncommon among groups of strangers or sometimes younger generations to split the bill;Template:Citation needed payment platforms and super-apps WeChat Pay and Alipay have a built-in bill-sharing feature.

South Asia

In Afghanistan, they call it bandar which means group food but contribution from all participants. The word "going Dutch" is common amongst the younger generation, especially students. The same practice is considered negative in family meetings.

In Pakistan, going Dutch is sometimes referred to as the "American system". This practice is more prevalent among the younger age group, friends, colleagues and some family members to request separate bills. In Urdu, the practice is called apna apna, which means 'each his own'. In a group, going Dutch generally means splitting the bill equally.

In Bangladesh it is common to use the term je je, jar jar (Template:Lang) 'his his, whose whose'.

In Nepal, people may say aafno aafno (Template:Literal translation) meaning each person pays for their own. to pay for your own. Young people may use English phrases such as "going together, paying separate".

India

In India there are many names for the practice, in different languages: it is called TTMM for tu tera mein mera in Hindi; je jaar shey taar in Bengali; tujhe tu majhe mi in Marathi; neenu nindu koodu, nanu nandu kodthini in Kannada; EDVD for evadi dabbulu vaadi dabbule in Telugu; and thantrathu, thaan in Malayalam. These all generally translate to 'you pay yours and I pay mine', though in practice it refers to splitting the bill equally. Since the concept of freely dating is comparatively new in India – a culture with a long history of arranged marriage – going Dutch is primarily not applied to dating but to outings among friends and colleagues. When the expression going Dutch is used, it often refers to splitting the bill equally.

Southeast Asia

In Indonesia, the term is BSS or BMM, as acronym for bayar sendiri-sendiri and bayar masing-masing, which both mean 'pay for yourself'. This term is most commonly used in less formal settings, such as among friends. In a more formal setting the commonly accepted convention is that the person with higher social standing pays. Among equal members of group it is considered polite to offer payments for all the meals and drinks, and the other party has the opportunity to refuse or accept.

In the Philippines, it is referred to as KKB, an acronym for Template:Lang which means 'pay for your own self'. KKB would generally be the norm among friends or people of similar financial standing. It is general practice to have the male answer the bill especially during courtship or when in romantic relationships.

In Thailand, the practice is referred to as Template:Lang, 'American share'.

West Asia

In most West Asian cultures, asking to go Dutch is seen as rude. Traditions of hospitality play a great part in determining who pays, therefore an invitation will be given only when the host feels that he or she is able to afford the expenses of all. Similarly, gender roles and age play a more important role than they would in Western societies.

In Iraq, the expression is Template:Lang (Template:Lang), referring to the people of Mosul who are supposedly stingy.

In Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, the expression is Template:Lang (Template:Lang), referring to the people of Damascus in Syria, who are supposedly stingy. A similar expression is Template:Lang (meaning 'sharing the Aleppo way'), bearing a similar connotation.

In Turkey, the corresponding phrase is Template:Lang, which can be translated into English as 'to pay the bill the German way'; in short form, it is Template:Lang, 'German-style'.

In Iran, it is called Dongi (Template:Lang), which translates into 'sharing equally'. It is used usually among close friends and the young when they are not invited by a specific host. Otherwise, the host will not allow anybody to pay, according to Persian hospitality norms. The practice has become quite common in Iran.

Europe

In Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Malta, it is rather uncommon for most locals to have separate bills, and is sometimes even regarded as rude, especially when in larger groups. In urban areas or places frequented by tourists, this has changed over the last decades.

In the Nordic countries and the Netherlands, going Dutch is the norm for almost every visit to a restaurant, with larger groups being the exception, especially on more formal occasions.Template:Citation needed Though the Scandinavian countries are some of the most gender-equal in the world, it is still common and mostly expected for men (in a heterosexual context) to pay for lunch/dinner on romantic dates.Template:Citation needed One exception to this norm is in the case of a woman asking a man out, where it would be considered polite for the woman to pay the bill. If a date is over fika (in Sweden), the parties usually go Dutch, because of the usually smaller price tag.

In Italy the phrase Template:Lang ('to pay as the Romans [do]', 'to pay Roman-style') describes sharing a bill in equal parts.<ref name=crusca>"Pagare alla romana" Template:Webarchive sul sito dell'Accademia della Crusca.</ref>

In Greece, the practice is colloquially called Template:Lang.

In Catalonia "going Dutch" is the rule among Catalans.

In France, Template:Lang (colloquially Template:Lang), literally 'make half-[and]-half', which means each one pays an equal portion of the bill. For romantic dates, the traditional practice is that the man pays. In a business meeting, the hosting party usually pays for all – it is considered rude not to do so.

In Portugal is called contas à moda do Porto meaning Porto's style bills or a meias meaning half-half/splitting the cost.