Quiero agua.

I want water.

Breakdown of Quiero agua.

• yo: I
• querer: to want
• el agua: the water

Questions & Answers about Quiero agua.

Why do we omit the article (like el or la) before agua?

In Spanish, it’s common to omit the article when talking about general or unspecified things we want or need. Saying Quiero agua is simply expressing a desire for water in general, not a specific glass or bottle. You could say Quiero el agua to specify a particular water (for example, the water you were already given), but in most cases, Quiero agua is perfectly natural.

Is Quiero agua considered polite enough, or should I use something like Quisiera agua?

Quiero agua is direct but not necessarily rude. However, depending on the context, if you want to sound softer or more polite (for example, when ordering in a restaurant or asking a favor), you could say Quisiera agua (I would like water). It’s similar to the difference between I want water and I would like some water in English.

Why don’t we say Yo quiero agua?

You can say Yo quiero agua, but Spanish often drops personal pronouns like yo (I) because the verb form (quiero) already tells us who’s speaking. Using yo isn’t incorrect; it just sounds more emphatic or is used when you need clarity.

Why is agua sometimes preceded by el if it’s a feminine noun?

Agua is indeed feminine, but because it starts with a stressed a sound, Spanish grammar uses el in front of it to avoid the repetition of the vowel sound (la agua would sound awkward). However, adjectives that follow still use the feminine agreement (for example, el agua fría).

Can I say Quiero un poco de agua instead of Quiero agua?

Yes, you can! Quiero un poco de agua (I want a bit of water) is perfectly acceptable if you want to emphasize you only need a little. Quiero agua is more general and simply states you want water, without specifying the amount.