acqua

/ˈak.kwa/
water

Ho bisogno di bere un bicchiere d'acqua.

I need to drink a glass of water.

◆ What It Really Means
To keep a secret, to not reveal information.
Literal Meaning
Water in the mouth.
Literal Breakdown
acquawater+inin+boccamouth
◇ Mental Image
The idea of holding water in your mouth to prevent it from spilling out, symbolizing the act of keeping something inside and not sharing it.
◈ When to Use
A friend tells you a secret and says, 'Acqua in bocca!' to remind you not to tell anyone else.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom is commonly used in Italian to emphasize the importance of confidentiality, especially in personal or professional settings.
general

The clear, transparent, odorless, and tasteless liquid that forms the world's streams, lakes, oceans, and rain, and is essential for all forms of life.

L'acqua è fondamentale per la vita.

Water is essential for life.

L'oceano è fatto di acqua salata.

The ocean is made of saltwater.

In Italian, 'acqua' can also refer to mineral water or tap water, depending on context.

Collocations

acqua mineralemineral wateracqua di rubinettotap wateracqua gassatasparkling wateracqua piovanarainwateracqua salatasaltwater

Related Phrases

acqua in boccaidiom
keep a secret
acqua chetaproverb
still water runs deep

Pro Tip

Gender and Articles

Remember that 'acqua' is a feminine noun in Italian, so it always takes the article 'l'' (e.g., 'l''acqua').

Gold Rule

Plural Form

The plural form of 'acqua' is 'acque', but it is rarely used in everyday language. The singular form is preferred in most contexts.

Word Origin

From Latin 'aqua', meaning 'water'. The word has been used in Italian since the early medieval period and remains unchanged in form and meaning.

Usage Notes

In Italian, 'acqua' is a feminine noun and is always used with the definite article 'l'' (e.g., 'l''acqua'). It is also commonly used in expressions like 'acqua alta' (high water, referring to flooding in Venice).

Word Breakdown

acqua
water
root
Dizionario Italiano-Inglese