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agua potable means drinking water — a common term in Essential Spanish. Learn how it's used in a real-world example.

📅 Published: December 16, 2025

📘 Essential Spanish

agua potable

noun • /[A-gwa po-TA-ble]/

drinking water

Example:

¿Es agua potable?

Is it drinking water?

🧠 What does agua potable mean?

Agua potable refers to water that is safe for human consumption, commonly known as drinking water or potable water. The term is a combination of 'agua' (water) and the adjective 'potable' (drinkable). It is frequently used in official contexts, public signage, and discussions about health, sanitation, and infrastructure to specify that a water source has been treated and is free from harmful contaminants.

📚 Extra examples

  • En el campamento, es fundamental tener acceso a agua potable.
    At the campsite, it's essential to have access to drinking water.
  • Este filtro purifica el agua para que sea potable.
    This filter purifies the water to make it potable.
  • La falta de agua potable afecta a millones de personas en el mundo.
    The lack of drinking water affects millions of people worldwide.
  • Un letrero indicaba que el agua de esa fuente no era potable.
    A sign indicated that the water from that fountain was not potable.

💡 Did You Know?

Although 'agua' is a feminine noun, it uses the masculine definite article 'el' in its singular form ('el agua'). This is a grammatical rule in Spanish for singular feminine nouns that begin with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' sound, to prevent the 'a' of the article 'la' from blending with the initial 'a' of the noun. However, any accompanying adjectives must remain in the feminine form, as in 'el agua potable' or 'el agua fría'.

🔁 Synonyms & opposites of "agua potable"

Synonyms: agua para beber, agua de consumo, agua corriente
Opposites: agua no potable, agua contaminada, agua cruda

🔍 See more essential spanish words

❓ FAQ

How do you say 'drinking water' in Spanish?
The most precise term for 'drinking water' is 'agua potable'. In more casual contexts, one might say 'agua para beber' (water for drinking).
How do you pronounce 'agua potable' in Spanish?
The pronunciation is AH-gwah poh-TAH-bleh. The stress falls on the first syllable of 'agua' and the second-to-last syllable of 'potable'.
How do you use 'agua potable' in a sentence?
An example sentence is: 'Es importante verificar si el hotel ofrece agua potable a sus huéspedes.' (It is important to verify if the hotel offers drinking water to its guests.)
What is the English translation of 'agua potable'?
The English translation of 'agua potable' is 'drinking water' or 'potable water'.
Does 'agua potable' change for gender or number?
'Agua' is a feminine noun but uses the masculine article 'el' in the singular ('el agua') to avoid a phonetic clash. The adjective 'potable' is invariable for gender. In the plural, it becomes 'las aguas potables'.
Is 'agua potable' common in everyday Spanish?
Yes, 'agua potable' is common, particularly in contexts related to travel, health, and public services. In very informal, everyday conversation where the context is clear, people might simply refer to it as 'agua'.
Does 'agua potable' have slang or double meanings?
No, 'agua potable' is a technical and straightforward term that does not have any common slang meanings or ambiguities.
Is 'agua potable' used differently in Spain vs Latin America?
The term 'agua potable' is standard and understood uniformly across all Spanish-speaking countries to mean water that is safe to drink.

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