A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Sparkling water" in Italian
Order refreshing sparkling water at any Italian restaurant or bar with this simple phrase.
Acqua frizzante
AH-kwah freet-ZAHN-tehneutral
Italian TTS · 0:01
When you're at a restaurant, bar, or cafe and want to order water with bubbles. Simply say this when the waiter asks what kind of water you'd like.
Alternatives
- Acqua gassataAlso common, especially in some regions.
- FrizzanteYou can often just say 'frizzante' if it's clear you're ordering water.
Ways to get it wrong
Acqua 'spumante'
'Spumante' means 'sparkling wine' (like Prosecco), not sparkling water.
Pronouncing 'zz'
The 'zz' in 'frizzante' is a long 'ts' sound, not a 'z'.
A small cultural note
Italians often prefer still water ('acqua naturale'), so be clear when ordering. Many restaurants will bring a bottle of still water by default if you don't specify.
Frequently asked
how to ask for sparkling water in italian
You can ask for 'acqua frizzante'. This is the most common and widely understood term for sparkling water in Italy.
acqua frizzante vs acqua naturale
'Acqua frizzante' means sparkling or fizzy water, while 'acqua naturale' means still or non-fizzy water.
is acqua gassata the same as frizzante
Yes, 'acqua gassata' is another common way to say sparkling water, and it means essentially the same thing as 'acqua frizzante'.
