Meaning
To consume water for hydration.
Cultural Background
The 'carafe d'eau' is a legal right in restaurants. You should never feel embarrassed to ask for it instead of expensive bottled water. Wallace Fountains are iconic public drinking fountains. They are safe, free, and part of the city's history. In Quebec, 'boire de l'eau' is the same, but you might hear 'de l'eau' pronounced with a slightly different vowel sound in informal speech. Water is considered essential to cleanse the palate between different wines or courses of a meal.
The 'De L' Rule
Always use 'de l'' before 'eau' in positive sentences. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Negation Change
When you say you DON'T drink water, 'de l'' changes to 'd''. Example: 'Je ne bois pas d'eau.'
Meaning
To consume water for hydration.
The 'De L' Rule
Always use 'de l'' before 'eau' in positive sentences. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Negation Change
When you say you DON'T drink water, 'de l'' changes to 'd''. Example: 'Je ne bois pas d'eau.'
Sound Like a Native
In a restaurant, just say 'Une carafe, s'il vous plaît.' Everyone knows you mean water.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the partitive article.
Je bois ___ eau.
'Eau' is feminine and starts with a vowel, so 'de la' becomes 'de l''.
Choose the correctly conjugated verb for 'Nous'.
Nous ___ de l'eau après le sport.
The 'nous' form of 'boire' is 'buvons'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Which phrase would you use to order free water in a restaurant?
A 'carafe d'eau' is the standard way to request free tap water.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Tu as soif ? B: Oui, je vais ___.
'Boire de l'eau' is the correct way to express quenching thirst.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Types of Water in France
Tap
- • Eau du robinet
- • Une carafe
Bottled
- • Eau minérale
- • Eau de source
Sparkling
- • Eau gazeuse
- • Eau pétillante
Practice Bank
4 exercisesJe bois ___ eau.
'Eau' is feminine and starts with a vowel, so 'de la' becomes 'de l''.
Nous ___ de l'eau après le sport.
The 'nous' form of 'boire' is 'buvons'.
Which phrase would you use to order free water in a restaurant?
A 'carafe d'eau' is the standard way to request free tap water.
A: Tu as soif ? B: Oui, je vais ___.
'Boire de l'eau' is the correct way to express quenching thirst.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, tap water (eau du robinet) is perfectly safe and highly regulated in France.
Because 'eau' starts with a vowel, we must use 'l'' to avoid a glottal stop. Since it's feminine, it would be 'de la', which contracts to 'de l''.
No, French requires an article. You must say 'Je bois de l'eau'.
It is sparkling or carbonated water, like Perrier or Badoit.
Related Phrases
avoir soif
prerequisiteto be thirsty
une carafe d'eau
specialized forma pitcher of water
eau potable
similardrinking water
boire un coup
informalto have a drink
