A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Sparkling water" in Spanish
Learn how to order sparkling water in Latin America with the essential phrase 'agua mineral con gas' and avoid common ordering mistakes.
Agua mineral con gas
AH-gwah mee-neh-RAHL kohn GAHSneutral
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase when ordering at a restaurant, café, or bar anywhere in Latin America. It explicitly clarifies that you want carbonated water rather than still water. It is also useful when buying bottled water at a local convenience store or supermarket.
Alternatives
- Agua con gasbetter for a slightly shorter, quicker casual order
- Agua mineralbetter in regions where 'mineral' inherently implies carbonated unless 'sin gas' is specified
Ways to get it wrong
Asking for 'agua con burbujas'
While literally translating to 'water with bubbles,' it sounds unnatural to native speakers who exclusively use 'con gas'.
Just saying 'agua mineral'
In many places, this might prompt the server to ask '¿con gas o sin gas?', so it's best to specify from the start.
A small cultural note
In many Latin American countries, ordering 'agua' defaults to bottled water rather than tap water, and servers will almost always ask you to clarify 'con gas' (carbonated) or 'sin gas' (still).
Frequently asked
how to order sparkling water in mexico
You can simply say 'agua con gas' or 'agua mineral con gas' when the server asks for your drink order. If you prefer a specific local brand, you can ask for a 'Topo Chico'.
difference between agua mineral and agua con gas
'Agua mineral' technically refers to mineral spring water, which is naturally or artificially carbonated. 'Agua con gas' can refer to any carbonated water, but in restaurants, both phrases are used interchangeably for sparkling water.
is tap water safe to drink in latin america restaurants
It is generally safer to stick to bottled water, which is why servers default to offering 'agua mineral' when you ask for water. Always specify 'con gas' or 'sin gas' to get your preferred bottled type.
What do Mexicans call sparkling water?
In Mexico, you can ask for 'agua mineral con gas' or simply 'agua con gas'.
How do you order sparkling water in Spanish?
To order sparkling water, you can say 'Quisiera agua mineral con gas, por favor' or 'Me da agua con gas, por favor'.
What is sparkling water called in Spain?
In Spain, sparkling water is commonly referred to as 'agua con gas'.
What is the difference between 'agua mineral' and 'agua con gas'?
'Agua mineral' can refer to still or sparkling mineral water, while 'agua con gas' specifically means sparkling water.
