אני רוצה מים.

I want water.

Breakdown of אני רוצה מים.

• אני: I
• מים: water
• לרצות: to want

Questions & Answers about אני רוצה מים.

How do you pronounce אני רוצה מים?

A common pronunciation is:

• ani rotze mayim — if the speaker is male
• ani rotza mayim — if the speaker is female

With vowel marks, that would be:

• אֲנִי רוֹצֶה מַיִם
• אֲנִי רוֹצָה מַיִם

A rough pronunciation guide:

• אני = ah-NEE
• רוצה = ro-TSEH or ro-TSAH
• מים = MA-yim

What is the word order in this sentence?

The word order is very straightforward:

• אני = I
• רוצה = want
• מים = water

So it follows the same basic pattern as English here:

I + want + water

In other words, this is a normal subject + verb + object sentence.

Why is רוצה written that way, and does it change depending on who is speaking?

Yes. רוצה agrees with the speaker’s gender.

• A male speaker says אני רוצה = ani rotze
• A female speaker says אני רוצה = ani rotza

Important: in everyday Hebrew writing without vowel marks, both are spelled exactly the same: רוצה.

So the difference is usually heard in speech, not seen in normal spelling.

Why is אני included? Can Hebrew drop it?

Yes, Hebrew can often drop subject pronouns in casual speech when the meaning is clear.

So you may hear:

• רוצה מים = Want water / I want water

But אני רוצה מים is completely correct and clear, and it is often better for learners because it is explicit and easy to understand.

Including אני can also add emphasis, like I want water.

Why is there no word for some in אני רוצה מים?

Because Hebrew often does not need a separate word for some with an indefinite mass noun like water.

So:

• מים can mean water
• and in context it may feel like some water

English sometimes uses some, but Hebrew usually just says מים.

So אני רוצה מים is a perfectly natural way to say I want water.

Why isn’t there an את before מים?

Because את is used before a definite direct object, and מים here is indefinite.

So:

• אני רוצה מים = I want water / some water
• אני רוצה את המים = I want the water

Use את when the noun is specific and definite, usually with ה־:

• את המים = the water

Without ה־, you normally do not use את.

Why does מים look plural if it means water?

That is a very common question. מים is one of those Hebrew words that has a plural-looking form but refers to a substance, not to multiple separate items.

So even though it looks like a plural noun, it usually just means water.

This is similar to how some languages use special forms for substances or things that are not normally counted one by one.

In Hebrew, מים is simply the normal word for water. You just have to learn it as a fixed vocabulary item.

Is רוצה actually the present tense of to want?

Yes. The dictionary form is לרצות = to want.

The word רוצה is the present-tense form:

• אני רוצה = I want
• אתה רוצה = you want (masculine singular)
• את רוצה = you want (feminine singular)

So in this sentence, רוצה is the present tense: want / am wanting, though in normal English we just say want.

Is this sentence too direct? How would you say it more politely?

אני רוצה מים is correct, but depending on the situation, it can sound a bit direct, like I want water.

In polite situations, Hebrew speakers often use softer alternatives, such as:

• אפשר מים? = Can I have water?
• אני רוצה בבקשה מים = I would like water, please
• אפשר לקבל מים? = Is it possible to get water?

So your sentence is grammatically fine, but for requests in restaurants or formal situations, a more polite phrasing is often more natural.