agua tónica
/aɡwa tonika/from spelling rules
Tonic water is translated into Spanish as agua tónica.
Agua tónica refers to a carbonated soft drink containing quinine, which is frequently used as a mixer in cocktails.
How does it change in a sentence?
Although agua is a feminine noun, it uses the masculine article el in the singular form (el agua tónica) to avoid a phonetic clash between the stressed 'a' in agua and the article.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word tónica is also used in linguistics to describe the stressed syllable of a word, known as the sílaba tónica.
- The word tónica in this context refers to the medicinal properties of quinine, which was historically used as a tonic to treat malaria.
- The word agua shares an ancient ancestor with the English word 'ea', a poetic or archaic term for a river or stream.
Examples in context
- ¿Puede traerme un vaso de agua tónica, por favor?Can you bring me a glass of tonic water, please?
- Voy a tomar una bebida con agua tónica.I'm going to have a drink with tonic water.
- Disculpe, ¿me podría traer una botella de agua tónica?Excuse me, could you bring me a bottle of tonic water?
- ¡Qué calor! Necesito una bebida refrescante con tónica.It's so hot! I need a refreshing drink with tonic water.
- Me gusta mucho el gin con tónica "Schweppes."I really like gin with "Schweppes" tonic water.
- Quiero un combinado de ginebra con agua tónica y una rodaja de limón, por favor.I would like a gin and tonic with tonic water and a slice of lemon, please.
- Quiero un Gin con agua tónica, por favor.I want a Gin and tonic, please.
- Necesito una botella de agua tónica.I need a bottle of tonic water.
- El agua tónica es muy amarga.Tonic water is very bitter.
- Solo quiero agua tónica con mucho hielo.I only want tonic water with lots of ice.
Example conversation
Elena is buying drinks at a supermarket for a party.
- JavierElena, ¿compraste agua tónica para los cócteles?Elena, did you buy tonic water for the cocktails?
- ElenaSí, Javier, compré tres botellas en el súper.Yes, Javier, I bought three bottles at the supermarket.
- JavierPerfecto, la vamos a usar esta noche.Perfect, we are going to use it tonight.
- ElenaEspero que haya suficiente para todos.I hope there is enough for everyone.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry agua tónica, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
