Water, Coffee and Drinks in French (Order Like a Local)
Water in French is l'eau - but ask for plate or gazeuse. Un café means espresso by default. Full drinks vocabulary and a ready-to-use café ordering script.
Water in French is l’eau. In a restaurant, specify une eau plate (still) or une eau gazeuse (sparkling) - or ask for une carafe d’eau for free tap water. Careful: un café means a small espresso by default, not a large coffee.
Quick answer
Water in French is l’eau. In a restaurant, specify une eau plate (still) or une eau gazeuse (sparkling) - or ask for une carafe d’eau for free tap water. Careful: un café means a small espresso by default, not a large coffee.
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Water: still or sparkling?
Une eau plate (still) vs une eau gazeuse (sparkling) - always specify in restaurants, since the default assumption varies. The money-saving phrase every traveler should know: une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît - free tap water, always available on request.
Coffee: the un café trap
Un café means a small black espresso by default - not the large American-style coffee many travelers expect. Variants: un café allongé (closer to an Americano), un café crème or une noisette (with milk), un déca (decaf).
Other drinks
| French | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| un thé | /uh(n) TAY/ | a tea |
| un jus d’orange | - | an orange juice |
| une bière | /ün BYEHR/ | a beer |
| un verre de vin | - | a glass of wine |
| un soda | - | a soda |
| un chocolat chaud | - | a hot chocolate |
Ordering script
Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît. / Une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plaît. / L’addition, s’il vous plaît. For the polite request pattern behind je voudrais + s’il vous plaît, see how to say please in French.
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Questions about this note
How do you ask for tap water in France?
Une carafe d'eau, s'il vous plaît - usually free.
What does un café mean in France?
A small black espresso by default, unless you specify otherwise.
How do you order a coffee with milk?
un café crème or une noisette.
How do you say sparkling water?
une eau gazeuse.
How do you say "the check please"?
L'addition, s'il vous plaît.