A guide to saying it like a local

How to Say "Still water" in Italian

Learn how to ask for still water in Italian restaurants, including phonetic pronunciation and essential cultural dining tips.

By PronunciationHub Editors · Reviewed 2026-05-21 · Neutral register

Acqua naturale

AHK-wah nah-too-RAH-layneutral

A single phrase, broken down

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Use this phrase immediately when the server asks what you would like to drink, which usually happens right after you are seated. In Italy, water does not come automatically or free, so you must specify 'acqua naturale' if you do not want sparkling water. It will be served in a sealed glass bottle, never as tap water in a pitcher.

Alternatives

Acqua lisciathis is equally common and used interchangeably with naturale across Italy
Acqua frizzanteuse this instead if you actually want sparkling or carbonated water

Ways to get it wrong

Asking for tap water

Avoid asking for 'acqua dal rubinetto'; while safe, it is culturally discouraged in restaurants, and servers will strongly prefer you order bottled water.

Misplacing the stress on 'acqua'

Make sure to emphasize the first syllable (AHK-wah), rather than dragging out the second syllable.

A small cultural note

Italians are highly particular about water pairings, often choosing 'naturale' for hearty meat dishes and sparkling for fish, though personal preference always wins out.

Frequently asked

is tap water free in Italian restaurants

No, restaurants in Italy almost exclusively serve bottled mineral water for which you will be charged a few euros. Asking for tap water is rare and often met with hesitation or a polite refusal.

difference between acqua naturale and acqua liscia

There is absolutely no difference in meaning between the two terms. 'Naturale' is the official label printed on bottles, while 'liscia' (literally 'smooth') is a highly popular colloquial alternative used by locals.

how to order a large bottle of still water in Italy

You can simply ask for 'una bottiglia grande di acqua naturale' to get a standard one-liter glass bottle for the table. If you want a smaller individual size, ask for 'una bottiglia piccola' instead.