boire de l'eau
To drink water in French is boire de l'eau.
The phrase is used to describe the act of consuming water as a liquid.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'to drink of the water' because it uses the partitive article de l'eau to indicate an unspecified amount.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between boire de l'eau and boire l'eau. While boire de l'eau means to drink water in general, boire l'eau refers to drinking a specific, previously mentioned body of water or a specific glass of water.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the partitive article de l'eau rather than the definite article l'eau to express the consumption of an indefinite quantity of water. Additionally, the infinitive form boire is used after other verbs like vouloir (to want) or devoir (to must).
Did you know?
- In France, you can ask for a carafe d'eau at a restaurant to get a pitcher of tap water for free.
- The English word 'beverage' is a distant cousin to the French verb boire, as both stem from the same Proto-Indo-European root *píph₃eti, which describes the act of drinking.
- While boire means 'to drink', French speakers use the same verb for liquids that English speakers might 'eat', such as some types of soup.
Examples in context
- Veux-tu boire de l'eau ?Do you wish to drink water?This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants to drink water using boire de l'eau.Tatoeba #9458818 by Adelpa, translation #9458865 by Adelpa
- Ils doivent boire de l'eau.They have to drink water.This sentence is useful for expressing the necessity to drink water using boire de l'eau.Tatoeba #4253432 by Adelpa, translation #2895815 by raggione
- Elle a décidé de boire de l'eau au lieu des jus de fruits et soda afin de maigrir.She decided to drink water instead of soft drinks in order to lose weight.This sentence is useful for describing a decision to drink water instead of other beverages using boire de l'eau.Tatoeba #354388 by bourdu, translation #315649 by CK
- Pouvez-vous boire de l'eau, s'il vous plaît?Can you please drink some water?
- Oui, tu as raison. Je vais prendre un verre d'eau.Yes, you're right. I'll have a glass of water.
Example conversation
Nathan and Manon are hiking on a hot day.
- NathanIl fait chaud, je dois boire de l'eau.It is hot, I need to drink water.
- ManonMoi aussi, j'ai très soif.Me too, I am very thirsty.
- NathanVeux-tu boire de l'eau maintenant ?Do you want to drink water now?
- ManonOui, s'il te plaît, Nathan.Yes, please, Nathan.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boire, de, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
