Explain Your Allergy in Slovak, German, Italian, Croatian

To explain a food allergy in another language you only need a few precise sentences: who you are, what you are allergic to, what you want the kitchen to do, and how the dish is prepared (shared oil, utensils). Below are phrases in Slovak, German, Italian and Croatian, set out in tables. They are examples that are worth checking with a local, and for a serious allergy a written card is the safer option.

The basic approach

Mention the allergy when you order, not after the food arrives.
Name the allergen exactly. "Nuts" is not the same as "peanuts".
Say what you want from the kitchen: a dish free of the allergen and free of cross-contamination.
Ask about preparation: oil, chopping board, utensils.
Ask them to pass the information on to the cooks.
If the answer is not certain, choose something else.

The same approach, for English speakers eating out, is described in How to ask about allergens in a restaurant.

Key sentences

If you are eating in Slovakia, the Slovak column is the one to use. Slovak adjectives change with gender: men say "alergický", women say "alergická".

English	Slovak	German	Italian	Croatian
I have an allergy.	Mám alergiu.	Ich habe eine Allergie.	Ho un'allergia.	Imam alergiju.
I am allergic to…	Som alergický (m) / alergická (f) na…	Ich bin allergisch gegen…	Sono allergico a…	Alergičan sam na…
I have coeliac disease.	Mám celiakiu.	Ich habe Zöliakie.	Ho la celiachia.	Imam celijakiju.
Does this contain…?	Obsahuje to…?	Enthält das…?	Contiene…?	Sadrži li ovo…?
Without…	Bez…	Ohne…	Senza…	Bez…
Is it fried in the same oil?	Vyprážate to v rovnakom oleji?	Wird das im gleichen Öl frittiert?	Viene fritto nello stesso olio?	Prži li se u istom ulju?
Could you check with the kitchen?	Môžete to overiť v kuchyni?	Können Sie bitte in der Küche nachfragen?	Può chiedere in cucina, per favore?	Možete li provjeriti u kuhinji?

Women say "allergica" in Italian and "alergična sam" in Croatian. German uses "allergisch" for everyone.

Allergen words in other languages

Allergen	English	Slovak	German	Italian	Croatian
Gluten	gluten	lepok	Gluten	glutine	gluten
Crustaceans	crustaceans	kôrovce	Krebstiere	crostacei	rakovi
Eggs	eggs	vajcia	Eier	uova	jaja
Fish	fish	ryby	Fisch	pesce	riba
Peanuts	peanuts	arašidy	Erdnüsse	arachidi	kikiriki
Soy	soy	sója	Soja	soia	soja
Milk	milk	mlieko	Milch	latte	mlijeko
Tree nuts	tree nuts	orechy	Schalenfrüchte (Nüsse)	frutta a guscio	orašasti plodovi
Celery	celery	zeler	Sellerie	sedano	celer
Mustard	mustard	horčica	Senf	senape	gorušica
Sesame	sesame	sezam	Sesam	sesamo	sezam
Sulphites	sulphites	siričitany	Sulfite	solfiti	sulfiti
Lupin	lupin	vlčí bôb	Lupine	lupini	lupina
Molluscs	molluscs	mäkkýše	Weichtiere	molluschi	mekušci

The list matches the 14 allergens recognised in the EU (see the 14 EU allergens). Other terms can appear on menus, for example "frutta secca" in Italian (dried fruit and nuts). With nuts, it is therefore better to name the specific kind.

For quick use, a Slovak sentence is enough: "Mám závažnú alergiu na arašidy. Prosím, jedlo bez arašidov a bez kontaktu s nimi." (I have a serious peanut allergy. Please make my food without peanuts and without any contact with them.) In English: "I am allergic to peanuts. Please no peanuts and no cross-contamination."

An allergy card: the most reliable tip

With a serious allergy or coeliac disease, a clear card that you hand to the staff is the safer choice. The advantages:

you do not have to find the words under pressure,
the cook can read it for themselves,
pronunciation does not matter,
you can use it again and again.

What to write on the card:

One sentence in the local language: "I have a food allergy to [allergen]."
What must not be in the food, and that cross-contamination (oil, utensils, board) must be avoided.
A request to check it with the kitchen.
If you like, your contact details.

Example in Slovak: „Mám potravinovú alergiu na [alergén]. Prosím, dbajte na to, aby moje jedlo neobsahovalo [alergén] ani jeho stopy zo spoločného oleja, náčinia či povrchov. Ďakujem.“

Example in English: "I have a severe food allergy to [allergen]. Please make sure my meal contains no [allergen] and no traces from shared oil, utensils or surfaces. Thank you."

You can print the card, write it by hand or keep it on your phone. Machine translation is a good first step, but with a serious allergy have it checked by someone who speaks the language.

When you cannot understand each other

Show the card and point to the key words.
Ask for another member of staff or a cook.
Choose a simple dish with fewer ingredients.
If you are still in doubt, go to another place.

For coeliac disease on holiday, see Coeliac disease on holiday, which also covers Greek and typical dishes in Croatia, Italy and Greece.

A few words about reading the menu

Menus abroad often show allergens as numbers or letters, but the legend can differ. In Slovakia, menus usually give the numbers 1 to 14 next to each dish, and many restaurants also offer a set "daily menu" ("denné menu") at lunchtime that is labelled in the same way. How the numbers are read in Slovakia is explained in Allergen numbers on menus. In other countries, check the legend.

The AvoiDino app can help you choose and compare dishes, but abroad do not rely on it as your only source.

Sample conversations

In Slovak: „Dobrý deň. Mám závažnú alergiu na vajcia. Môžete sa, prosím, opýtať v kuchyni, či toto jedlo obsahuje vajcia a či sa pripravuje oddelene?“

In English: "Hello. I have a severe allergy to eggs. Could you please check with the kitchen whether this dish contains eggs, and whether it is prepared separately?"

In German: „Guten Tag. Ich habe eine Allergie gegen Eier. Können Sie bitte in der Küche nachfragen, ob dieses Gericht Eier enthält?“

In Italian: „Buongiorno. Sono allergico alle uova. Può chiedere in cucina se questo piatto le contiene?“

In Croatian: „Dobar dan. Alergičan sam na jaja. Možete li provjeriti u kuhinji sadrži li ovo jelo jaja?“

These are simple examples. If it is a serious allergy, ask a local to check the phrases for you.

Before you travel

Save the phrases offline on your phone, because you may not have mobile data on the road.
Bring a printed copy of the card in case your battery dies.
Find out the emergency number of the country you are visiting (112 works across the EU). In Slovak, "Potrebujem pomoc" means "I need help" and "Zavolajte sanitku, prosím" means "Please call an ambulance".
If your doctor has prescribed medication, take it with you and ask the doctor about any paperwork you should carry.

Frequently asked questions

How do I say I am allergic to peanuts in Slovak?

"Som alergický na arašidy" (a man) or "Som alergická na arašidy" (a woman). Add "Prosím, bez kontaktu s nimi" (please, no contact with them) if cross-contamination matters to you.

How do I ask in Italian whether a dish contains gluten?

"Questo piatto contiene glutine?" With coeliac disease, also ask about preparation, for example whether the oil is shared.

Is a translation app enough?

It can help, but translation apps make mistakes. With a serious allergy it is better to have a card ready and have it checked by someone who speaks the language.

Is "nuts" the same as peanuts?

No. "Peanuts" are arašidy and "tree nuts" are orechy. When you have an allergy, name the specific allergen.

Do the same allergens apply abroad?

The same list of 14 allergens applies across the EU, but how willing and well informed businesses are varies. Always check the ingredients and the preparation.

Sources

Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Annex II (list of substances causing allergies or intolerances) and Article 44 (non-prepacked food).

This information is general and does not replace medical advice. If you have an allergy, always check the ingredients with the staff. Foreign-language phrases are examples; check them with locals.