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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

asking for a glass of water in restaurant

Hi, everyone.
I know that water is an uncountable noun, so the correct way to ask for water in a restaurant would be "?_could I have some water, please?_", or "_may I have two glasses of water, please?_", and so on. But I'm wondering if in spoken English, in an informal way, you could use water as an countable noun, as "_can I have two waters, please?_" (asking for two glasses of water).

Thanks in advance. Take care, everyone.
  

Top answer

Two waters would be rare but understandable.

— Philip

  • Two waters would be rare but understandable.
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7 Answers
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Two waters would be rare but understandable.
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I thought it was a thing native speakers usually said.

Thank you a lot, Philip.
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Two martinis, cokes, hamburgers - fine. Probably two glasses of milk, iced tea or two cups of coffee.
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Anonymous I thought it was a thing native speakers usually said.Thank you a lot, Philip.
To ask the diner waitress for two waters is perfectly normal in my dialect.
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In American English, one would say, "May I have two glasses of water, please?" Asking for two waters suggests you are asking for two persons.
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AnonymousCan I have two waters, please?
That's OK for two people. Can we assume that's what you mean?

There were three of us at the table. We ordered three waters, two coffees, and an iced tea.

CJ
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CalifJimThere were three of us at the table. We ordered three waters, two coffees, and an iced tea.
Good example of oral restaurant shorthand.
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