Breakdown of Vreau o apă minerală, vă rog.
o
a / an (f)
vrea
to want
vă rog
please (formal / plural)
apa minerală
the sparkling water (mineral water)
Questions & Answers about Vreau o apă minerală, vă rog.
Does apă minerală always mean "sparkling water"?
In Romania, if you ask for apă minerală, you will almost always get sparkling (carbonated) water. If you want still water, you need to ask for apă plată (literally "flat water").
Is it considered rude to use vreau (I want) instead of "I would like" when ordering?
Not in Romanian! While you can use aș vrea (I would like) to be extra polite, using vreau is very common and perfectly acceptable in cafes or restaurants, as long as you add vă rog (please).
Why is it vă rog instead of te rog here?
Vă is the formal "you". When ordering from a waiter or speaking to a stranger, you should use the formal vă rog. You would only use te rog with friends, family, or children.
Why do we say o apă? Isn't water uncountable?
Just like in English when you say "I'd like a water" to mean a bottle or glass of water, Romanian uses the feminine word for "a" (o) here to ask for a single serving of water.