Asking About Specific Ingredients in Italian: Garlic, Onions and More
Learn to ask whether a dish contains a specific ingredient in Italian, understand the answer, and handle allergies or dislikes politely at restaurants and markets.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you eat in Italy, general questions like 'What is in this?' often get a long list you cannot follow. A sharper skill is asking about one ingredient at a time: 'Does this have garlic?' In Italian, the key structure is 'C'è...?' for one ingredient and 'Ci sono...?' for more than one. This lesson teaches you to name common ingredients, ask precisely, and understand short yes/no answers. You will also learn polite ways to explain an allergy or dislike, so a waiter or shopkeeper can help you choose safely.
By the end, you can…
- ask whether a dish contains a specific ingredient using 'C'è' and 'Ci sono'
- understand short answers such as 'Sì, c'è' or 'No, non c'è'
- name common ingredients like aglio, cipolla, formaggio and glutine
- explain a food allergy or dislike politely and ask for an alternative
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
C'è l'aglio?
Is there garlic? / Does this have garlic?
cheh LAH-lyoh
Use for one ingredient. 'C'è' means 'there is'. The article 'l'' joins to 'aglio'.
Ci sono le cipolle?
Are there onions? / Does this have onions?
chee SOH-noh leh CHEE-pohl-leh
Use for more than one ingredient. 'Ci sono' means 'there are'.
No, non c'è.
No, there isn't. / No, it doesn't.
noh, nohn cheh
Standard short negative answer. 'Non' goes before the verb.
Sono allergico/a a...
I am allergic to...
SOH-noh al-LER-jee-koh/ah ah
Men say 'allergico', women say 'allergica'. Follow with the ingredient: 'Sono allergica al glutine'.
C'è glutine in questo piatto?
Is there gluten in this dish?
cheh GLOO-tee-neh een KWEH-stoh PYAHT-toh
'Glutine' is masculine, so use 'C'è'. 'Questo piatto' means 'this dish'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 'C'è + singular ingredient?' and 'Ci sono + plural ingredient?'. Examples: 'C'è la cipolla?' (Is there onion?), 'Ci sono i funghi?' (Are there mushrooms?), 'C'è il formaggio?' (Is there cheese?). Answer with 'Sì, c'è' / 'No, non c'è' for singular, and 'Sì, ci sono' / 'No, non ci sono' for plural. Note that Italian ingredients usually take an article: 'l'aglio', 'la cipolla', 'il formaggio', 'i funghi'.
When to use it
Use these questions when ordering at a restaurant, buying prepared food, or checking a menu. They are more precise than 'Cosa c'è dentro?' (What is inside?). If you have an allergy, add 'Sono allergico/a a...' before your question: 'Sono allergica ai frutti di mare. C'è del pesce in questa pasta?' For dislikes, use 'Non mangio...' (I don't eat...): 'Non mangio la carne. C'è del brodo di carne?' Waiters understand these phrases and can suggest alternatives.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buonasera. C'è l'aglio nella salsa di pomodoro?
Good evening. Is there garlic in the tomato sauce?bwoh-nah-SEH-rah. cheh LAH-lyoh NEHL-lah SAHL-sah dee poh-moh-DOH-roh?Sì, c'è un po' di aglio.
Yes, there is a little garlic.see, cheh oon poh dee LAH-lyohAh, sono allergico all'aglio. C'è un piatto senza aglio?
Ah, I am allergic to garlic. Is there a dish without garlic?ah, SOH-noh al-LER-jee-koh ahl-LAH-lyoh. cheh oon PYAHT-toh SEHN-tsah LAH-lyoh?Sì, la pasta al pomodoro non ha aglio. Va bene?
Yes, the pasta with tomato sauce doesn't have garlic. Is that okay?see, lah PAH-stah ahl poh-moh-DOH-roh nohn ah LAH-lyoh. vah BEH-neh?A little context goes a long way
In Italy, asking about ingredients is normal and not considered rude. However, 'senza aglio' (without garlic) is a clear request; simply saying 'Non mi piace' (I don't like it) may sound vague. If you have a serious allergy, say 'Sono allergico/a' clearly and repeat it; restaurants take this seriously. Regional cooking varies: garlic is common in southern Italian dishes, while some northern recipes use onions or butter instead.
One thing to watch for
Using 'C'è' with a plural ingredient, as in 'C'è le cipolle?'
Try this instead: Use 'Ci sono' for plural: 'Ci sono le cipolle?' For one ingredient, use 'C'è': 'C'è la cipolla?' The verb must match the number of the ingredient.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask 'Is there garlic?' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
C'è l'aglio?
'C'è' is used for one singular ingredient, and 'aglio' takes the article 'l''. A valid alternative is 'C'è dell'aglio?' (Is there some garlic?).
2A waiter says 'No, non ci sono.' What ingredient did you probably ask about?
Show a sample answer
A plural ingredient, such as onions, mushrooms or tomatoes.
'Non ci sono' is the negative plural answer, so the question must have used 'Ci sono'. For example, 'Ci sono i funghi?' — 'No, non ci sono.'
3How would a woman say 'I am allergic to gluten'?
Show a sample answer
Sono allergica al glutine.
Women use 'allergica'; men use 'allergico'. 'Al glutine' combines 'a' + 'il'. A valid alternative is 'Ho un'allergia al glutine' (I have a gluten allergy).
Ask about one ingredient at a time: 'C'è...?' for singular, 'Ci sono...?' for plural. Listen for 'Sì, c'è' or 'No, non c'è' and use 'Sono allergico/a a...' when it matters.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Italian into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr