water

Few things are as common as water, but it doesn’t have many direct synonyms. However, there are several terms that can be used instead of water in certain situations.

Because water molecules consist of a combination of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, it’s chemical symbol is H₂O, and it’s sometimes referred to this way. Although this sounds more technical, it’s usually used to be humorous, as in I could go for some cold H₂O right now.

Sometimes, people refer to water informally with its equivalent word in Spanish, agua.

An old-fashioned slang term for water is Adam’s ale (a joke on the notion that water was the only thing that the Biblical Adam had to drink).

The Latin phrase aqua pura means and is sometimes used to refer to pure water.

Water is sometimes informally referred to as wet stuff. This can refer to water as a drink or to rainwater.

Water that comes out of the faucet (the tap) is called tap water.

Water is often distinguished between freshwater and salt water.

Other specific types of water include seawater (and ocean water), ground water, bathwater, and wastewater.

The verb water, as in water the plants, doesn’t have many direct synonyms, but you could use different words depending on how much water is needed, like sprinkle or dampen for a little or soak or saturate for a lot. On a larger scale, such as in the context of farming, you could use the word irrigate.

To water down something is to add water to it to dilute or thin it. This term is also commonly used in a figurative way, and dilute is also a good synonym for this sense.

Body of water is a general term for things like oceans, seas, and lakes. It’s not usually used for smaller things like ponds. The term the water can often be used to refer to a body of water in a general way, as in I just love being on the water or We’d have to fly over the water to get there. 

Informally, such a body of water might be called the drink—especially when someone or something falls in.