Italian Phrase
Acqua naturale, per favore.
Meaning
A polite way to ask for still (non‑sparkling) water in a restaurant, café, or any place where drinks are served. It directly translates to “Still water, please.”
When to use
Use this sentence when you want a glass of plain water at a restaurant, bar, or when a host offers you a choice between sparkling and still water. It works in both formal and informal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acquanaturale,perfavore.
Noun + adjective agreement
In Italian, adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify; 'acqua' is feminine singular, so the adjective is 'naturale'.
Polite phrase 'per favore'
'Per favore' literally means 'for favor' and is used like 'please' to soften requests.
Comma usage
A comma before 'per favore' is optional in spoken language but often written to separate the request from the polite phrase.
🗨In Conversation
Acqua naturale, per favore.
Still water, please.
Certo, ecco a lei.
Sure, here you go.
✕Common Mistakes
Acqua naturale per favore.
Missing the comma can make the phrase look rushed; native speakers usually pause before 'per favore'.
Acqua naturale, per favore?
Adding a question mark changes the tone to a question; the phrase is a statement/request, not a question.
Acqua naturale, per favoree.
The word 'favore' is singular; adding an extra 'e' is a spelling error.
↔Alternatives
Acqua senza gas, per favore.
Water without gas, please.
Un bicchiere d'acqua, per favore.
A glass of water, please.
Acqua naturale, grazie.
Still water, thank you.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, water is typically offered in two bottles: 'acqua naturale' (still) and 'acqua frizzante' (sparkling). Waiters will often ask which you prefer. Using 'per favore' is always polite, but in very casual settings Italians may simply say 'acqua naturale' without the extra courtesy.