eau
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eau
French word for water, used in German almost exclusively as part of names for perfumes and scented waters to indicate a lighter concentration.
Ein Eau de Toilette ist weniger konzentriert als ein Eau de Parfum.
An eau de toilette is less concentrated than an eau de parfum.
'Eau' is the French word for 'water' and is also pronounced in the French way (roughly like 'oh'). In German, it is almost never used on its own, but rather as part of product names.
Sie trägt ein leichtes Eau für den Sommer.
She wears a light eau for the summer.
Although the French word 'l'eau' is feminine, the article in German is 'das Eau'. This change of gender in loanwords is a common source of mistakes.
Das Eau de Cologne wurde nach der Stadt Köln benannt.
Eau de Cologne was named after the city of Cologne.
You will find this word almost exclusively in fixed combinations such as 'Eau de Parfum', 'Eau de Toilette', or 'Eau de Cologne'. These terms describe different concentrations of fragrance oils in a perfume.
Ein Eau de Parfum hat einen höheren Duftanteil als ein Eau de Toilette.
An eau de parfum has a higher fragrance concentration than an eau de toilette.
water
'das Wasser' and 'das Eau' are both connected to water, but they are used very differently in German. 'das Wasser' is the normal German word for the liquid that people drink, use for washing, or find in rivers and lakes. 'das Eau' comes from French and is used in German almost only in names of fragrances, for example with perfume or scented water. Learners may confuse the words because 'Eau' is literally connected to water. In everyday life, however, people do not say 'Eau trinken' (drink eau), but always 'Wasser'. 'Eau' only fits in special product names or fragrance terms.
Im Sommer benutzt mein Bruder lieber ein leichtes Eau de Toilette.
In summer, my brother prefers to use a light eau de toilette.
Nach dem Sport trank die Kundin ein großes Glas Wasser.
After exercising, the customer drank a large glass of water.