In this workshop you will practice a very common everyday exchange: buying a bottle of water in French. You will learn how to make a polite request, how to say whether you want still water or sparkling water, and how to understand a simple price and respond. The practice is built around short recorded lines, so you can listen, repeat, and then take both roles yourself. You do not need any previous French to begin. Work through the sections in order, then try the three tasks. Each task has a clear answer or self-check so you can see how you did.
Making a polite request
The simplest way to ask for a bottle of water is a short, polite phrase. Listen to the recording and repeat it slowly: «Une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.». This means 'A bottle of water, please.' The word for bottle is feminine, and the water is expressed as 'of water'. The polite tag at the end works with anyone you do not know. A softer and very common alternative is «Je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'I would like a bottle of water, please.' This form sounds more polite than saying 'I want', which can feel abrupt. Use either line when you speak. Say it clearly, keep a calm rhythm, and do not rush the polite ending.
Still or sparkling
Water often comes in two kinds. If you want water with no bubbles, say «De l'eau plate, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'Still water, please.' If you want water with bubbles, say «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'Sparkling water, please.' The difference is only one word, so listen carefully to the middle of the phrase. In some places you may also see or hear another word for sparkling on labels and menus, but the recorded line here is the one to practice first. When you order, you can combine your request with your choice: ask for a bottle, then add the kind you want. This keeps your request clear and polite.
Hearing the choice and the price
In a shop or kiosk, the person serving you may ask which kind you want. Listen to this short exchange. The customer says «Bonjour, je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.», which means 'Hello, I would like a bottle of water, please.' The person serving replies with «De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ?», which means 'Still or sparkling water?' The customer answers and then asks the price with «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?», which means 'Sparkling water, please. How much is it?' Finally, the person serving gives the price and hands over the water with «Deux euros. Voilà.», which means 'Two euros. Here you are.' Notice that the price is a short number phrase, and the polite handover is a single word. For this exercise, recognize the two-euro price and repeat the recorded price line. Payment phrases are a separate speaking task.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
A bottle of water, please.
ewn boo-TAY doh, seel voo PLEH
Je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
I would like a bottle of water, please.
zhuh voo-DREH ewn boo-TAY doh, seel voo PLEH
De l'eau plate, s'il vous plaît.
Still water, please.
duh loh PLAT, seel voo PLEH
De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît.
Sparkling water, please.
duh loh ga-ZUHZ, seel voo PLEH
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I would like a bottle of water, please.De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ?
Still or sparkling water?De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?
Sparkling water, please. How much is it?Deux euros. Voilà.
Two euros. Here you are.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask for water
Imagine you are at a small kiosk. The person serving you is ready to take your order. You will speak first.
Your task: Say a polite request for a bottle of water. Use the short recorded line «Une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.» or the softer recorded line «Je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.». Then add your choice: say you want sparkling water using «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît.». Say both parts out loud, slowly and clearly.
Reply comprehension: still or sparkling
You are the customer, but this time you listen first. The person serving you asks a question. You will hear it in the recording.
Your task: Listen to «De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ?». Identify the two kinds of water offered in the question. Then choose the correct recorded answer for a customer who wants still water: «De l'eau plate, s'il vous plaît.» or «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît.». Say your chosen answer out loud.
Recall and switch roles
Now you will take both roles in the exchange. First you are the customer, then you are the person serving. Use only the recorded lines you have practiced.
Your task: As the customer, say hello and ask for a bottle of water using «Bonjour, je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.». Then, as the person serving, ask which kind using «De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ?». Switch back to the customer and answer with sparkling water and ask the price using «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ?». Finally, as the person serving, give the price and hand over the water using «Deux euros. Voilà.».
Common questions
Do I need to use the softer request form, or is the short one enough?
Both are polite and useful. The short line «Une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.» is simple and clear. The softer line «Je voudrais une bouteille d'eau, s'il vous plaît.» sounds a little more polite and is very common. Choose the one you can say comfortably, and keep the polite ending clear.
What should I listen for when the person serving me replies?
Listen for the two water words in «De l'eau plate ou gazeuse ?». One means still and the other means sparkling. If you hear the question, you can answer with «De l'eau plate, s'il vous plaît.» or «De l'eau gazeuse, s'il vous plaît.». If you hear a price like the one in «Deux euros. Voilà.», recognize the two-euro example price and repeat the recorded line.
Sources and further reading
- french: buy a bottle of waterChecked September 2026
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