FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesAt the SupermarketAvete acqua naturale?
A1

Avete acqua naturale?

Do you have still / natural water?

Pronunciation

'Naturale' — 'na-tu-RA-le'. Five syllables, stress on fourth. Clear open vowels.

When to use it

Buying bottled water — Italy has a huge bottled water culture. 'Naturale' means still; 'frizzante' means sparkling. You must specify.

What it means

'Acqua naturale' = still water (literally 'natural water'). 'Acqua frizzante' = sparkling water. 'Acqua effervescente naturale' = naturally sparkling. Italy is one of the world's largest bottled water consumers.

Variations

Avete acqua frizzante?

Do you have sparkling water?

'Frizzante' = sparkling — the most common distinction in Italian

Qual è la migliore acqua del posto?

Which is the best local water?

Asking for a regional brand recommendation

Avete acqua in bottiglia da due litri?

Do you have water in two-litre bottles?

Asking for a specific bottle size — important for large quantities

Mini Dialogue

Cliente: Avete acqua naturale in formato da due litri? Commessa: Sì — Panna, Levissima, San Benedetto e Ferrarelle naturale. Cliente: Qual è la più locale? Commessa: Levissima viene dalle Alpi lombarde — ottima e locale.

Customer: Do you have still water in a two-litre format? Assistant: Yes — Panna, Levissima, San Benedetto and natural Ferrarelle. Customer: Which is the most local? Assistant: Levissima comes from the Lombardy Alps — excellent and local.

Cultural Note

Italy has dozens of bottled water brands, each with its own mineral composition, taste and prestige. Panna (from Tuscany) and San Pellegrino (from Lombardy) are the luxury brands exported worldwide. San Pellegrino is actually owned by Nestlé — a fact that upsets some Italians.