receipt
nounthe piece of paper (or email) a shop gives you to show what you bought and that you paid
Receipt = proof you paid. The p is silent: ri-SEET.
Recipe vs receipt
In Spanish it's recibo, in French reçu, in Italian ricevuta, so recipe can feel like the right word at the till. It isn't. Receipt also hides a silent p (say ri-SEET), which makes it easy to forget.
2 wordsaudio · quiz
Quick answer
A receipt is the paper that proves you paid. A recipe tells you how to cook something.
recipe
nouna set of instructions for cooking something, with a list of what goes in it
Recipe = how to cook it. Three beats: RESS-uh-pee.
The difference at a glance
| Word | Type | Means | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| receipt | noun | the piece of paper (or email) a shop gives you to show what you bought and that you paid | Can I have the receipt, please? | |
| recipe | noun | a set of instructions for cooking something, with a list of what goes in it | This cake is amazing! Can I have the recipe for this cake? |
See each one in a sentence
noun
receipt
Examples
Can I have the receipt, please?
Keep your receipt in case you need to take it back.
Common mistake
Not: Can I have the recipe? I need it for work.
Say: Can I have the receipt? I need it for work.
You want proof of what you paid, not cooking instructions, so ask for the receipt.
noun
recipe
Examples
This cake is amazing! Can I have the recipe for this cake?
My grandma's soup recipe has only five ingredients.
Common mistake
Not: I'm making pancakes from my mum's receipt.
Say: I'm making pancakes from my mum's recipe.
Instructions for cooking are a recipe.
Pick the right word
Fill the gap
Read the sentence, then choose the word that fits.
Watch the Short
"Can I Have the Recipe?" Doesn't Get You a Receipt 🧾 | Word Mix-ups (B1–B2)
Now use them yourself
Write or say two sentences, one with each word, in a real conversation.