Spanish · Food & Drink
"Water" in Spanish: agua
el agua
Say el agua (AH-gwah) for water. The noun is feminine, yet singular uses el because agua begins with a stressed a: el agua fría, las aguas. At cafés ask for agua natural (still) or agua con gas (sparkling).
Ordering drinks
Un vaso de agua natural, por favor.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce agua
Say it
AH-gwah
/ˈa.ɣwa/
AH-gwah, with the stress on the first syllable. The g is a hard g, as in "go", and the u is almost silent: it only keeps the g hard before a. There is no written accent on agua.
"Water" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el agua | water Default word for drinking or cooking water. | Default word for drinking or cooking water. |
| el agua natural | still water Common café order in Latin America. | Common café order in Latin America. |
| el agua con gas | sparkling water Also called agua mineral con gas on some menus. | Also called agua mineral con gas on some menus. |
| un vaso de agua | a glass of water Everyday request at home or in a restaurant. | Everyday request at home or in a restaurant. |
| el agua de jamaica | hibiscus agua fresca A sweet cold drink made from flowers, popular in Mexico. | A sweet cold drink made from flowers, popular in Mexico. |
How to use agua in real life
- 1Ordering drinks
Un vaso de agua natural, por favor.
A glass of still water, please.
Natural means still, not flavored.
- 2After a walk
Tengo sed. ¿Hay agua fría?
I'm thirsty. Is there cold water?
Tener sed is the set phrase for being thirsty.
- 3In the kitchen
Añade más agua a la sopa.
Add more water to the soup.
Agua works for cooking liquid, not only drinking water.
Mistakes English speakers make with agua
Incorrect: La agua está fría.
Correct: El agua está fría.
Singular agua takes el (and un poco de), not la. Feminine shows up in adjectives: el agua fría, and in the plural: las aguas.
Incorrect: Quiero un agua frío.
Correct: Quiero un agua fría.
Agua is feminine, so the adjective is fría. Un agua is fine for a bottle or serving.
Good to know
In many Latin American cities people prefer bottled or filtered water for drinking, and waiters often ask natural or con gas first. Mexico also loves aguas frescas—fresh fruit or hibiscus drinks sold next to meals—so agua on a street stall might mean that sweet cooler, not plain water.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Ordering at a hot café patio
ChatPal
Hace calor. ¿Quieres agua o jugo?
It's hot. Do you want water or juice?
You
Agua natural bien fría, por favor.
Very cold still water, please.
ChatPal
Dos aguas naturales, entonces.
Two still waters, then.
You
Gracias. Esa agua me salva.
Thanks. That water saves me.
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 Spanish
Why is it el agua if agua is feminine?
Spanish uses el before singular feminine nouns that start with stressed a- or ha-. You still say el agua fría and las aguas claras.
How do I order sparkling water?
Agua con gas, por favor. For still water: agua natural or agua sin gas.
Is agua the same in Spain?
Yes for the noun. Spain also says agua con gas and agua sin gas; some menus write mineral.
How do you pronounce agua?
AH-gwah with stress on AH. Keep both syllables clear; do not say AH-goo-ah.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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