How to Say 'A Bottle of Water, Please' in German: Buying Water at a Shop or Kiosk
Learn to buy water in German: say 'A bottle of water, please,' ask for still or sparkling water, and understand prices and container deposits at shops and kiosks.
By SofiaGetting around · Yapr Learn
Buying water in Germany is straightforward once you know a few key phrases. In this lesson, you will learn how to ask for a bottle of water, specify still or sparkling, and handle payment. You will also learn about the deposit system for bottles, which is common in Germany. By the end, you will be able to walk into a shop or kiosk and buy water confidently.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a bottle of water politely in German.
- specify still or sparkling water.
- ask how much it costs and understand the answer.
- handle the bottle deposit (Pfand) when buying water.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.
A bottle of water, please.
EYE-nuh FLASH-uh VAH-ser, BIT-tuh
Standard polite request. Use 'eine Flasche' for one bottle. 'Bitte' makes it polite.
Mit Kohlensäure, bitte.
Sparkling, please. (literally: with carbonation)
mit KOH-len-zoy-ruh, BIT-tuh
Use this to ask for sparkling water. 'Kohlensäure' means carbonation.
Ohne Kohlensäure, bitte.
Still, please. (literally: without carbonation)
OH-nuh KOH-len-zoy-ruh, BIT-tuh
Use this for still water. In some regions, 'stilles Wasser' is also common.
Was kostet das?
How much does that cost?
vas KOS-tet das
Ask for the price. The answer might be 'Ein Euro fünfzig' (1.50 euros).
Mit Pfand, bitte.
With deposit, please. (when returning bottles)
mit PFANT, BIT-tuh
Use when you want to pay the deposit or return bottles. 'Pfand' is the bottle deposit.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To order items politely, use the pattern: [Item] + bitte. For example, 'Eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.' (A bottle of water, please.) You can replace 'Wasser' with other drinks: 'Eine Flasche Cola, bitte.' (A bottle of cola, please.) If you want to specify the type, add 'mit' (with) or 'ohne' (without) + noun: 'mit Kohlensäure' (sparkling), 'ohne Kohlensäure' (still). Note that 'Wasser' is neuter: 'das Wasser'. So 'ein Wasser' is also possible, but 'eine Flasche Wasser' is more specific.
When to use it
Use these phrases in shops, kiosks, or cafes. In a bakery or small kiosk, you might say 'Ich möchte eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.' (I would like a bottle of water, please.) At a supermarket, you usually take the bottle yourself and pay at the checkout. If you want tap water in a restaurant, say 'Leitungswasser, bitte.' (Tap water, please.) Note that in Germany, tap water is safe to drink, but in restaurants, you often pay for bottled water. The deposit system: many bottles have a 'Pfand' (deposit) of 0.25 euros. You pay it when you buy and get it back when you return the bottle.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Guten Tag! Ich möchte eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.
Hello! I would like a bottle of water, please.GOO-ten TAHK! ikh MURKH-tuh EYE-nuh FLASH-uh VAH-ser, BIT-tuhMit oder ohne Kohlensäure?
With or without carbonation?mit OH-der OH-nuh KOH-len-zoy-ruhOhne Kohlensäure, bitte. Was kostet das?
Still, please. How much does that cost?OH-nuh KOH-len-zoy-ruh, BIT-tuh. vas KOS-tet dasDas macht 1,50 Euro plus 25 Cent Pfand.
That comes to 1.50 euros plus 25 cents deposit.das makht EYN Euro FUMF-tsikh, plus FUMF-un-tsvan-tsikh tsent PFANTA little context goes a long way
In Germany, bottled water often comes with a deposit (Pfand) of 0.25 euros for plastic bottles and 0.08 or 0.15 euros for glass bottles. You pay it when you buy and get it back when you return the bottle to a machine or cashier. Sparkling water is very common; still water is also available but less default. In restaurants, you usually order bottled water, and tap water is not automatically served. It's polite to say 'bitte' when ordering.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Ich will eine Flasche Wasser' (I want a bottle of water) without 'bitte' or using 'wollen' directly, which can sound rude.
Try this instead: Use 'Ich möchte' (I would like) or add 'bitte'. For example: 'Ich möchte eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.' or simply 'Eine Flasche Wasser, bitte.' This is polite and standard.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for a bottle of sparkling water in German?
Show a sample answer
Eine Flasche Wasser mit Kohlensäure, bitte.
This phrase includes 'mit Kohlensäure' for sparkling. You could also say 'Eine Flasche sprudelndes Wasser, bitte.' but 'mit Kohlensäure' is more common.
2What does 'Pfand' mean and how much is it typically for a plastic bottle?
Show a sample answer
Pfand is a bottle deposit, typically 0.25 euros for plastic bottles.
You pay it when buying and get it back when returning the bottle. For glass bottles, it can be 0.08 or 0.15 euros.
3How do you ask 'How much does that cost?' in German?
Show a sample answer
Was kostet das?
This is a standard way to ask for the price. You could also say 'Wie viel kostet das?' which is equally correct.
Use 'Eine Flasche Wasser, bitte' to order water, add 'mit' or 'ohne Kohlensäure' for sparkling or still, and remember to pay the Pfand deposit. Always say 'bitte' to be polite.
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