eau du robinet
/o dy ʁɔ.bi.nɛ/feminine
eau du robinet is the French phrase for tap water.
eau du robinet refers to water that comes from a tap. When discussing whether the water is safe to drink, you can use the adjective potable (drinkable) to describe it.
Meaning: water from a tap (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of eau (water), du (of the) and robinet (tap).
How does it change in a sentence?
Because eau starts with a vowel, the definite article la contracts to l’ when used in the phrase l'eau du robinet (the tap water).
How do you pronounce it?
/o dy ʁɔ.bi.nɛ/
When do people say it?
In French restaurants, you can ask for une carafe d'eau to get free tap water instead of buying bottled water.
Did you know?
- The word robinet is a diminutive of the word for 'sheep'. This is because early water taps were frequently crafted in the shape of a sheep's head.
Examples in context
- Ne bois pas l'eau du robinet.Don't drink the tap water.This sentence is useful for advising someone not to drink the eau du robinet.Tatoeba #5371820 by pititnatole, translation #4666273 by CK
- L'eau du robinet est dangereuse.Tap water is dangerous.This sentence is useful for stating that the eau du robinet is dangerous.Tatoeba #3657847 by sacredceltic, translation #1225240 by AlanF_US
- L'eau du robinet est-elle potable en Australie?Is the tap water in Australia drinkable?This sentence is useful for asking if the eau du robinet is drinkable in Australia.Tatoeba #4450327 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #3040117 by AnneWy
- Bonjour, je vais prendre de l'eau du robinet, s'il vous plaît.Hello, I'll have some tap water, please.
- Maman, est-ce que je peux boire de l'eau du robinet ?Mom, can I drink tap water?
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are at a restaurant.
- ChloéJe vais prendre un verre d'eau du robinet.I will have a glass of tap water.
- NathanC'est mieux que l'eau en bouteille.It's better than bottled water.
- ChloéOui, et c'est gratuit ici.Yes, and it's free here.
- NathanJe vais faire la même chose, Nathan.I'll do the same, Nathan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tap water” translations and entries eau du robinet, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries du, eau, robinet, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
