Portuguese · Food & Drink
"Water" in Portuguese: água
a água
Water in Portuguese is a água, feminine despite the initial a sound. At cafés ask for água sem gás or água com gás. Brazilians also say um copo d'água for a glass of water.
Ordering at a restaurant
Uma água sem gás bem gelada, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce água
Say it
AH-gwah
/ˈa.ɡua/
AH-gwah. Stress the first syllable. The accent on á marks that stress.
"Water" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| a água | water Default word for drinking or washing water. | Default word for drinking or washing water. |
| água sem gás | still water Menus and waiters in Brazil. | Menus and waiters in Brazil. |
| água com gás | sparkling water Also written água gaseificada on some labels. | Also written água gaseificada on some labels. |
| um copo d'água | a glass of water Everyday request at home or in a café. | Everyday request at home or in a café. |
| água mineral | mineral water Bottled water brands on supermarket shelves. | Bottled water brands on supermarket shelves. |
How to use água in real life
- 1Ordering at a restaurant
Uma água sem gás bem gelada, por favor.
A very cold still water, please.
Bem gelada is a common Brazilian request for icy drinks.
- 2After exercise
Estou com sede. Você tem água aí?
I'm thirsty. Do you have water there?
Estar com sede means to be thirsty.
- 3Cooking
Coloca mais um pouco de água no feijão.
Add a little more water to the beans.
Água works for cooking liquid, not only drinking water.
Mistakes English speakers make with água
Incorrect: O água está gelada.
Correct: A água está gelada.
Água is feminine. Use a água, even though it starts with a.
Incorrect: Eu quero uma aqua.
Correct: Eu quero uma água.
Portuguese spells it água with u and an accent, not aqua.
Good to know
In hot Brazilian cities, asking for água gelada is normal, and many people carry a garrafa de água. At restaurants, still versus sparkling is the first choice waiters expect after you sit down.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering drinks at a beach kiosk
ChatPal
O sol está forte. Quer água ou suco?
The sun is strong. Do you want water or juice?
You
Água sem gás, bem gelada, por favor.
Still water, very cold, please.
ChatPal
Duas águas sem gás, então. Mais alguma coisa?
Two still waters, then. Anything else?
You
Só isso. Essa água vai salvar meu dia.
Just that. This water will save my day.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Water" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Water" in Portuguese
Why is it a água and not o água?
Água is feminine. The written accent and gender are fixed: a água fria.
How do I ask for sparkling water?
Água com gás, por favor. For still water, say água sem gás.
What does copo d'água mean?
A glass of water. The d' is a short de before água.
Is água the same in Portugal?
Yes. You will also hear água da torneira for tap water in both places.
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