Here's why:

* Polar Covalent Bonds: The bonds between hydrogen and oxygen in water are polar covalent bonds. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it pulls the shared electrons closer to itself. This creates a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms.

* Bent Molecular Geometry: Water has a bent molecular geometry due to the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom. This bent shape further contributes to the uneven distribution of charge, making one side of the molecule more negative and the other side more positive.

Because of these factors, water has a permanent dipole moment, making it a polar molecule.