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PhrasesFood ShoppingPreferisce l'acqua naturale o frizzante?
A1

Preferisce l'acqua naturale o frizzante?

Do you prefer still or sparkling water?

Pronunciation

pre-fe-RI-she LAK-wa na-tu-RA-le o frit-SAN-te

When to use it

Asking someone's preference for water — at a restaurant, when shopping, or at home.

What it means

Italians consume an enormous quantity of bottled mineral water — among the highest per capita in Europe. Natural mineral water must come from a certified underground source. Key brands include Ferrarelle (naturally sparkling), San Pellegrino (sparkling), Panna (still), Levissima (still), and Uliveto (sparkling).

Variations

Liscia o gassata?

Still or carbonated?

Very common colloquial phrasing — liscia means smooth

Naturale, leggermente frizzante o frizzante?

Still, lightly sparkling, or sparkling?

Three-way choice — leggermente frizzante is between still and fully sparkling

Ha l'acqua in bottiglia grande?

Do you have water in large bottles?

Asking for 1.5L or 2L bottles

Mini Dialogue

— Preferisce l'acqua naturale o frizzante? — Frizzante, grazie — San Pellegrino se ce l'ha. — Ce l'abbiamo — grande o piccola? — Grande — un litro e mezzo.

— Do you prefer still or sparkling water? — Sparkling, please — San Pellegrino if you have it. — We do — large or small? — Large — one and a half litres.

Cultural Note

San Pellegrino, owned by Nestlé since 1997, originates from the Bergamo Prealps in Lombardy and has been bottled since 1899. Ferrarelle, a naturally carbonated water from Campania, is the preferred sparkling water of many Neapolitans. Italy exports these waters worldwide.