Ordering at a Restaurant: Dietary Needs

Key vocabulary

• alérgicoadj.

  allergic (adj.)

  “Soy alérgico a los frutos secos.”— I'm allergic to nuts.

  Pattern ser alérgico a — to be allergic to

  Compare intolerante — intolerant

  Feminine alérgica; plural alérgicos/alérgicas

  💡 From Greek allos (other) + ergon (reaction), referring to an abnormal reaction.

• picanteadj.

  spicy (adj.)

  “Sin picante, por favor.”— No spice, please.

  Pattern sin picante — no spice

  Compare especiado — spiced

  No gender or number change

  💡 From the verb picar (to sting), spicy food stings like a prick.

• vegetarianoadj.

  vegetarian (adj.)

  “¿Tiene opción vegetariana?”— Do you have a vegetarian option?

  Pattern opción vegetariana — vegetarian option

  Compare vegano — vegan

  Feminine vegetariana; plural vegetarianos/as

  💡 From Latin vegetus (lively), related to plants.

• sinprep.

  without (prep.)

  “Sin problema.”— No problem.

  Pattern sin azúcar — without sugar

  Compare carecer de — to lack

  No conjugation

  💡 Similar to English without, but shorter and often followed by a noun.