Water vs. Aqua — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
Water refers to the clear liquid essential for life, while Aqua, derived from Latin, is used in English primarily as a color name, resembling water's hue, and as a prefix or part in compound words (like 'aquarium').
Difference Between Water and Aqua
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Water is a substance that is vital for life, consisting of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Aqua, while it directly translates to 'water' in Latin and some Romance languages, takes a somewhat different connotation in English. When used alone in English, "Aqua" tends to be associated with a greenish-blue color that resembles clean, light water.
Water is ubiquitous, found in oceans, lakes, and rivers, and is crucial for living organisms. Aqua is also commonly seen as a prefix or component in English words such as "aquatic" or "aquarium," suggesting a relation to water, without being water per se.
Utilizing water in a sentence might include discussing its states (liquid, solid, or gas), its uses (drinking, cleaning), or its properties (transparent, odorless). Contrarily, using Aqua in a sentence might refer to describing colors, e.g., "The room was painted in a light aqua shade," reflecting its distinct English usage.
Water, as a word and a substance, is indispensable to discussions about nature, biology, and environment due to its fundamental role in sustaining life. Meanwhile, Aqua, in English contexts, may steer conversations toward aesthetics, particularly when discussing design, fashion, or visual arts, due to its association with a specific color.
In cultural or symbolic contexts, water is often seen as a symbol of life, purity, and renewal. In contrast, Aqua may lack such profound symbolic meanings in English but could be associated with tranquility and freshness due to its color connotations and root meaning.
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Comparison Chart
Basic Meaning
A transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, H2O.
A light greenish-blue color, and a word component related to water.
Common Use
Used to describe the liquid in oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Commonly used to describe a specific color or as a prefix in words like "aquarium".
Etymology
From Old English "wæter".
From Latin "aqua".
Symbolic Meaning
Often symbolizes life, purity, and cleansing in various cultures.
Lacks specific symbolic meaning in English, might infer freshness or tranquility due to color.
Example Usage
"He drank a glass of water."
"She painted her room an aqua hue."
Compare with Definitions
Water
A stretch or area of water, such as a river or sea.
The team sailed on uncharted waters.
Aqua
A greenish-blue color, reminiscent of clean, light water.
She chose aqua as the main color for the summer collection.
Water
Water (chemical formula H2O) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a solvent). It is vital for all known forms of life, even though it provides no calories or organic nutrients.
Aqua
[In compounds] Pertaining to water.
An aqueduct transports water across large distances.
Water
A colourless, transparent, odourless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms
Sodium chloride dissolves in water
Can I have a drink of water?
Aqua
The name for water in various languages, derived from Latin.
Aqua means water in Italian.
Water
A stretch or area of water, such as a river, sea, or lake
The lawns ran down to the water's edge
Aqua
Used in names of chemical compounds to denote the presence of water or hydroxyl.
Calcium aqua complexes are involved in hard water.
Water
Urine
Drinking alcohol will make you need to pass water more often
Aqua
Water.
Water
The amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged in a flow shortly before birth
I think my waters have broken
Aqua
An aqueous solution.
Water
The quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem.
Aqua
A light bluish green to light greenish blue.
Water
Capital stock that represents a book value greater than the true assets of a company.
Aqua
(inorganic compound) The compound water.
Water
Pour or sprinkle water over (a plant or area) in order to encourage plant growth
I went out to water the geraniums
Aqua
A shade of colour, usually a mix of blue and green similar to the colour turquoise.
Water
(of a person's eyes) fill with tears
Rory blinked, his eyes watering
Aqua
Of a greenish-blue colour.
Water
Dilute or adulterate (a drink, typically an alcoholic one) with water
Staff at the club had been watering down the drinks
Aqua
Water; - a word much used in pharmacy and the old chemistry, in various signification, determined by the word or words annexed.
Water
Increase (a company's debt, or nominal capital) by the issue of new shares without a corresponding addition to assets.
Aqua
A shade of blue tinged with green
Water
A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid, H2O, essential for most plant and animal life and the most widely used of all solvents. Freezing point 0°C (32°F); boiling point 100°C (212°F); specific gravity (4°C) 1.0000; weight per gallon (15°C) 8.338 pounds (3.782 kilograms).
Aqua
A term used in brand names or titles to infer a relation to water.
Aqua Fitness refers to exercise in the water.
Water
Any of various forms of water
Waste water.
Water
Often waters Naturally occurring mineral water, as at a spa.
Water
A body of water such as a sea, lake, river, or stream.
Water
Waters A particular stretch of sea or ocean, especially that of a state or country
Escorted out of British waters.
Water
A supply of water
Had to turn off the water while repairing the broken drain.
Water
A water supply system.
Water
Any of the fluids normally secreted from the body, such as urine, perspiration, tears, or saliva.
Water
A fluid present in a body part in abnormal quantities as a result of injury or disease
Water on the knee.
Water
The fluid surrounding a fetus in the uterus; amniotic fluid.
Water
An aqueous solution of a substance, especially a gas
Ammonia water.
Water
A wavy finish or sheen, as of a fabric or metal.
Water
The valuation of the assets of a business firm beyond their real value.
Water
Stock issued in excess of paid-in capital.
Water
The transparency and luster of a gem.
Water
A level of excellence.
Water
To pour or sprinkle water on; make wet
Watered the garden.
Water
To give drinking water to.
Water
To lead (an animal) to drinking water.
Water
To dilute or weaken by adding water
A bar serving whiskey that had been watered.
Water
To give a sheen to the surface of (fabric or metal).
Water
To increase (the number of shares of stock) without increasing the value of the assets represented.
Water
To irrigate (land).
Water
To produce or discharge fluid, as from the eyes.
Water
To salivate in anticipation of food
The wonderful aroma from the kitchen makes my mouth water.
Water
To take on a supply of water, as a ship.
Water
To drink water, as an animal.
Water
(uncountable) A substance (of molecular formula H2O) found at room temperature and pressure as a clear liquid; it is present naturally as rain, and found in rivers, lakes and seas; its solid form is ice and its gaseous form is steam.
By the action of electricity, the water was resolved into its two parts, oxygen and hydrogen.
Water
The liquid form of this substance: liquid H2O.
May I have a glass of water?
Your plants need more water.
Water
(countable) A serving of liquid water.
Water
The aforementioned liquid, considered one of the Classical elements or basic elements of alchemy.
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
He showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God.
Water
Water in a body; an area of open water.
The boat was found within the territorial waters.
These seals are a common sight in the coastal waters of Chile.
Water
A body of water, almost always a river.
Water
A combination of water and other substance(s).
Water
Mineral water.
Perrier is the most popular water in this restaurant.
Water
Spa water.
Many people visit Bath to take the waters.
Water
(pharmacy) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance.
Ammonia water
Water
Urine.
Water
Amniotic fluid or the amniotic sac containing it. Used only in the plural in the UK but often also in the singular in North America. (The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary says "often used in plural; also: bag of waters".)
Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s water breaks.
Before your child is born, your water(s) will break.
Before the child is born, the pregnant woman’s waters break.
Water
Fluids in the body, especially when causing swelling.
He suffers from water on the knee.
Water
A state of affairs; conditions; usually with an adjective indicating an adverse condition.
The rough waters of change will bring about the calm after the storm.
Water
A person's intuition.
I know he'll succeed. I feel it in my waters.
Water
Excess valuation of securities.
Water
The limpidity and lustre of a precious stone, especially a diamond.
A diamond of the first water is perfectly pure and transparent
Water
A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc.
Water
(transitive) To pour water into the soil surrounding (plants).
Water
(transitive) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate.
Water
(transitive) To provide (animals) with water for drinking.
I need to water the cattle.
Water
(intransitive) To get or take in water.
The ship put into port to water.
Water
To urinate onto.
Nature called, so I stepped into the woods and watered a tree.
Water
(transitive) To dilute.
Can you water the whisky, please?
Water
To overvalue (securities), especially through deceptive accounting.
Water
(intransitive) To fill with or secrete water.
Chopping onions makes my eyes water.
The smell of fried onions makes my mouth water.
Water
(transitive) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines.
To water silk
Water
The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc.
Water
A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water.
Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled.
Water
Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine.
Water
A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water.
Water
The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence.
Water
An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted."
Water
To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.
With tears watering the ground.
Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands.
Water
To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses.
Water
To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken.
Water
To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water.
If thine eyes can water for his death.
Water
To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water.
Water
Binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
Water
The part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean);
They invaded our territorial waters
They were sitting by the water's edge
Water
Facility that provides a source of water;
The town debated the purification of the water supply
First you have to cut off the water
Water
Once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
Water
Liquid excretory product;
There was blood in his urine
The child had to make water
Water
A fluid necessary for the life of most animals and plants;
He asked for a drink of water
Water
Supply with water, as with channels or ditches or streams;
Water the fields
Water
Provide with water;
We watered the buffalo
Water
Secrete or form water, as tears or saliva;
My mouth watered at the prospect of a good dinner
His eyes watered
Water
Fill with tears;
His eyes were watering
Water
A colorless, transparent, odorless, liquid which forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain.
Plants need water to grow.
Water
To pour liquid (water) on something to nourish or to dampen.
She goes to water the plants every morning.
Water
To produce tears.
Her eyes began to water as she chopped the onions.
Water
A specific type of water-based solution.
The recipe called for a splash of rose water.
Common Curiosities
Is "Water" used to describe any specific color?
No, "Water" describes a substance and isn't associated with a specific color in the way "Aqua" is.
Does "Aqua" mean water in English?
While "Aqua" is Latin for water, in English, it's primarily associated with a greenish-blue color.
Can "Aqua" refer to any body of water?
Not commonly in English; "Aqua" is usually related to color or used as a component in compound words like "aquatic."
Can "Aqua" be used to describe anything related to water in English?
Not directly. "Aqua" is more often tied to the specific color or used as a prefix, like in "aquarium."
Is "Aqua" often used in cosmetic branding?
Yes, "Aqua" is commonly used in product names to denote freshness or a relation to water.
Can "Aqua" be used in a metaphorical sense?
Rarely in English. "Aqua" is typically literal, relating to color or water in compound words.
What is "hard" water?
Hard water contains high mineral content, especially calcium and magnesium.
Is "Water" vital for all living organisms?
Yes, "Water" is essential for the survival of all known forms of life.
Can "Water" also refer to a surface of this substance?
Yes, "Water" can refer to a body of the substance, e.g., territorial waters.
Can "Water" mean to shed tears?
Yes, one can say their eyes are “watering” to mean tears are forming.
Does "Aqua" always refer to a light blue shade?
Mostly yes, but shades can vary, sometimes leaning toward greenish-blue or turquoise.
Can "Water" also be a verb?
Yes, "to water" means to moisten or supply with water, as in watering plants.
Are there idiomatic expressions using "Water"?
Yes, e.g., "treading water" means to stay afloat or maintain a position without making progress.
Does "Aqua" relate to "aquatic"?
Yes, "aquatic" denotes something related to water, incorporating "aqua" as a root.
Is "Aqua" ever used as a verb?
No, "Aqua" is not used as a verb in English.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
