Which Italian phrases matter most here?

“Non mangio carne.” (I do not eat meat); “Senza carne, per favore.” (No meat, please); “Non mangio carne di maiale.” (I do not eat pork). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Italian phrases for saying you're vegetarian or vegan in Italy

Say “Non mangio carne” or “Senza carne, per favore” as soon as you get the menu. Ask “Avete dei piatti vegani?” to find what suits you, and check a dish: “Il risotto è fatto con il brodo di carne?”. Men say “sono vegetariano”, women “sono vegetariana”.

Try it · about two minutes

Before ordering, you explain what you don’t eat and check which dishes on the menu fit.

Sound on: the waiter speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Waiter
Ecco il menù.
Here is the menu.
You
Non mangio carne.
I do not eat meat.
Waiter
Nessun problema.
No problem.
You
Che cosa ci consiglia?
What do you recommend?
Waiter
Le consiglio il risotto ai funghi.
I recommend the mushroom risotto.
You
È piccante?
Is it spicy?
Waiter
Siete pronti per ordinare?
Are you ready to order?
You
Prendo il risotto, senza pancetta, per favore.
I’ll have the risotto, without pancetta, please.
Waiter
Desidera altro?
Would you like anything else?
You
Un contorno di verdure, per favore.
A side of vegetables, please.
Waiter
È tutto a posto?
Is everything all right?
You
Grazie, è molto buono.
Thank you, it is very good.

Which Italian phrases do you need?

Non mangio carne.
I do not eat meat.
Senza carne, per favore.
No meat, please.
Non mangio carne di maiale.
I do not eat pork.
Avete dei piatti vegani?
Do you have any vegan dishes?
È piccante?
Is it spicy?
Che cosa ci consiglia?
What do you recommend?
Qual è il piatto del giorno?
What is the dish of the day?
Siete pronti per ordinare?
Are you ready to order?
Desidera altro?
Would you like anything else?
Grazie, è molto buono.
Thank you, it is very good.

What is worth knowing in Italy?

Vegetariano or vegetariana

Say “sono vegetariano” if you’re a man and “sono vegetariana” if you’re a woman. “Non mangio carne” works for everyone.

Non mangio carne.

I do not eat meat.

Ask about the stock

Plenty of Italian dishes have no meat, but a risotto, a sauce or a soup can start from a meat stock or pancetta. A quick question is normal.

Senza carne, per favore.

No meat, please.

Finding your dish

1
Say it early, when the menu arrives.
I do not eat meat.
2
Ask what’s in a dish if the menu isn’t clear.
Is it spicy?
3
Vegetable sides, called contorni, are an easy addition to any order.

Questions about this situation

Which Italian phrases matter most here?: “Non mangio carne.” (I do not eat meat); “Senza carne, per favore.” (No meat, please); “Non mangio carne di maiale.” (I do not eat pork). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Italy. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Italian

All situations in Italian

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

Try free on the App Store (opens the App Store in a new tab)

AI-generated. May be inaccurate.