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Thread: Very simple - how to ask for a bottle of water?

  1. #1
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    Very simple - how to ask for a bottle of water?

    I've been asking for:

    бутилка воды

    but this often gets a puzzled reponse. That may of course be my accent. So then I just say: вода пожалуйста. This usually gets understood.

    What do Russians do? (We're talking about a small bottle of water in a kiosk or small shop). Do they ask just for water - or for a bottle of water?

    Thanks a lot.

  2. #2
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    In nominative (бутылка воды) without "пожалуйста", it sounds like a command.
    In accusative (бутылку воды ) even without "пожалуйста", it is a request.
    You can also say "вода, пожалуйста", "бутылка воды, пожалуйста".
    justinwyllie likes this.

  3. #3
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    Just "bottle of water" can cause puzzled reponse because of uncertainty.
    You should give more details about product you want to buy.
    "бутылочку воды аква-минерале негазированную ноль-пять (0,5 liter)" is ok.
    Soft sign and justinwyllie like this.

  4. #4
    Властелин iCake's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blind pew View Post
    You can also say "вода, пожалуйста", "бутылка воды, пожалуйста".
    Don't use these. They don't sound Russian at all. Say: воды, пожалуйста. Бутылку воды, пожалуйста. Shouting nouns in nominative doesn't sound like a command at all.
    fortheether and justinwyllie like this.
    I do not claim that my opinion is absolutely true.
    If you've spotted any mistake in my English, please, correct it. I want to be aware of any mistakes to efficiently eliminate them before they become a habit.

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    Почтенный гражданин oldboy's Avatar
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    1. Бутылку воды, пожалуйста.
    2. Мне, пожалуйста, бутылку воды.
    Thanks for correcting me.

  6. #6
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    Question is always better if you like the polite form.
    Можно мне бутылку воды, пожалуйста?
    Не могли бы вы дать мне бутылку воды, пожалуйста?

    Oldboy's, variants are good too.

  7. #7
    Почтенный гражданин Serge_spb's Avatar
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    Дайте бутылку воды, пожалуйста.

    (Дайте)--->>что? what? вин. падеж (accusative case) -бутылку

    Also
    Можно бутылку воды?
    Мне бутылку воды, пожалуйста.
    Одну бутылку воды, пожалуйста.

  8. #8
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    Thanks all. The main point seems to be that since it is an object (of desire) I should have been using бутылку

    I will practice this on my next trip!

  9. #9
    Властелин Medved's Avatar
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    I can't see any gain from such an easy-peasy phrase like "a bottle of water" practiced.
    Choose something more complicated.
    Another month ends. All targets met. All systems working. All customers satisfied. All staff eagerly enthusiastic. All pigs fed and ready to fly.

  10. #10
    Завсегдатай Antonio1986's Avatar
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    Sorry guys but in my country the majority of russians just say: водичка пожалуйста.
    I don't know why a man 50 years olds prefers the playful уменьшительно-ласкательная версия rather than воды пожалуйста ... but this is fact!
    Может быть у них игривое настроение так как они в отпуске но думаю и что когда я был в Минске большинство говорили водичка
    Чем больше слов, тем меньше они стоят.

  11. #11
    Властелин iCake's Avatar
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    водичка пожалуйста? You sure you make it out right? Should be either водичку or водички.
    I do not claim that my opinion is absolutely true.
    If you've spotted any mistake in my English, please, correct it. I want to be aware of any mistakes to efficiently eliminate them before they become a habit.

  12. #12
    Завсегдатай Antonio1986's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by iCake View Post
    водичка пожалуйста? You sure you make it out right? Should be either водичку or водички.
    I didn't notice.
    But grammatically is correct водичку or водички
    Чем больше слов, тем меньше они стоят.

  13. #13
    Подающий надежды оратор Black Forest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Antonio1986 View Post
    But grammatically is correct водичку or водички
    Typically, the use of partitive genitive in the context of asking for food or drink would denote a request for 'some' (small, unspecified amount) of the item.
    Last edited by Black Forest; September 10th, 2016 at 10:38 AM. Reason: Adjustment
    Шварцвальд

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