French for Food Preferences: Say 'No Onions, Please' and 'Extra Sauce'
Learn to order food in French with preferences like 'sans oignons' and 'avec plus de sauce'. Master polite requests for cafés and restaurants.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When ordering food in French, you often need to express preferences, not just dietary needs. This lesson teaches you how to say 'No onions, please' and 'Extra sauce' politely. You'll learn key phrases, pronunciation, and cultural tips for French-speaking restaurants. Whether you're at a café in Paris or a bistro in Montreal, these expressions will help you customize your meal with confidence.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a dish without a specific ingredient, like 'sans oignons'.
- request extra sauce or an additional item using 'avec plus de' or 'en plus'.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Sans oignons, s'il vous plaît.
No onions, please.
sahn‿ohn-yohn, seel voo pleh
Use this when you want a dish without onions. 'Sans' means 'without'. The liaison between 'sans' and 'oignons' is optional but common in careful speech.
Avec plus de sauce, s'il vous plaît.
With extra sauce, please.
ah-vek ploo duh sohs, seel voo pleh
Ask for more sauce. 'Plus de' means 'more of'. You can replace 'sauce' with other items like 'fromage' (cheese) or 'frites' (fries).
Pas d'oignons, s'il vous plaît.
No onions, please.
pah dohn-yohn, seel voo pleh
An alternative to 'sans oignons'. 'Pas de' is more emphatic and common in spoken French. Use it to stress that you really don't want onions.
Je voudrais un supplément de sauce.
I would like an extra serving of sauce.
zhuh voo-dreh uhn soo-play-mahn duh sohs
A polite way to ask for an extra portion. 'Supplément' means 'extra' or 'additional'. This is slightly more formal than 'avec plus de sauce'.
Sans fromage, s'il vous plaît.
No cheese, please.
sahn froh-mahzh, seel voo pleh
Use this pattern to omit any ingredient. Replace 'fromage' with other foods, like 'tomates' (tomatoes) or 'herbes' (herbs).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To express a preference, use 'sans' + ingredient for 'without', and 'avec plus de' + item for 'with more'. For example: 'sans oignons' (no onions), 'avec plus de sauce' (with more sauce). You can also use 'pas de' + ingredient for a stronger 'no'. These patterns work in most restaurants. Remember to add 's'il vous plaît' for politeness. For extra portions, say 'un supplément de' + item, as in 'un supplément de frites' (an extra serving of fries).
When to use it
Use these phrases when ordering at a café, restaurant, or market. They are perfect for customizing a dish to your taste. For example, if you don't like onions, say 'Sans oignons, s'il vous plaît.' If you love sauce, say 'Avec plus de sauce, s'il vous plaît.' In Quebec, you might hear 'sans oignons' pronounced with a different accent, but the phrase is the same. Avoid using these phrases for severe allergies; instead, clearly state your allergy to the staff.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour, je voudrais le steak frites, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, I would like the steak frites, please.bohn-zhoor, zhuh voo-dreh luh stehk freet, seel voo plehTrès bien. Et avec cela ?
Very well. And with that?treh byan. eh ah-vek suh-lahSans oignons, s'il vous plaît. Et avec plus de sauce.
No onions, please. And with extra sauce.sahn‿ohn-yohn, seel voo pleh. eh ah-vek ploo duh sohsD'accord. Un steak frites sans oignons et avec plus de sauce.
Okay. One steak frites without onions and with extra sauce.dah-kor. uhn stehk freet sahn‿ohn-yohn eh ah-vek ploo duh sohsA little context goes a long way
In France, it's common to customize dishes, but politeness is key. Always say 's'il vous plaît'. In Quebec, you might hear 'sans oignons' pronounced with a different accent, but the phrase is the same. In more formal restaurants, use 'Je voudrais' instead of 'Je veux' (I want), which can sound rude. If you have a severe allergy, state it clearly: 'Je suis allergique aux oignons' (I am allergic to onions).
One thing to watch for
Using 'Je veux' (I want) to order, which can sound demanding.
Try this instead: Use 'Je voudrais' (I would like) for politeness. For example, say 'Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît' instead of 'Je veux un café'.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'No onions, please' in French?
Show a sample answer
Sans oignons, s'il vous plaît.
'Sans' means 'without', and 's'il vous plaît' means 'please'. You can also say 'Pas d'oignons, s'il vous plaît' for emphasis.
2Translate: 'With extra sauce, please.'
Show a sample answer
Avec plus de sauce, s'il vous plaît.
'Avec plus de' means 'with more'. You can replace 'sauce' with other items. Another option is 'Je voudrais un supplément de sauce'.
3How would you ask for no cheese on your burger?
Show a sample answer
Sans fromage, s'il vous plaît.
Use 'sans' + ingredient. 'Fromage' means 'cheese'. You can also say 'Pas de fromage, s'il vous plaît'.
Use 'sans' for 'without' and 'avec plus de' for 'with more' to customize your order politely. Always add 's'il vous plaît'.
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