How to Say 'No Onions, Please' and 'Extra Sauce' in Italian
Learn to express food preferences in Italian, such as 'No onions, please' and 'Extra sauce', with polite phrases for restaurants and shops.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When ordering food in Italy, you may want to customize your dish by leaving out an ingredient or asking for more of something. This lesson teaches you how to say 'No onions, please' and 'Extra sauce' in Italian, along with other useful modifications. You'll learn the key phrases and the polite way to make requests, so you can enjoy your meal exactly as you like it.
By the end, you can…
- ask for a dish without a specific ingredient, like onions.
- request extra sauce or another condiment.
- politely modify my order in a restaurant or at a food counter.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Senza cipolla, per favore.
No onions, please.
SEN-tsa CHEE-pohl-lah, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Use 'senza' to mean 'without'. 'Cipolla' is singular, but it's often used in the singular even when referring to onions in general. This phrase is polite and direct.
Senza cipolle, per favore.
No onions, please.
SEN-tsa CHEE-pohl-leh, pehr fah-VOH-reh
The plural 'cipolle' is also common, especially when referring to multiple onions. Both singular and plural are acceptable; the singular is slightly more common in fixed requests.
Con salsa extra, per favore.
With extra sauce, please.
kohn SAHL-sah EKS-trah, pehr fah-VOH-reh
Use 'con' for 'with' and 'extra' for 'extra'. 'Salsa' means sauce. This is a polite way to ask for more sauce.
Vorrei una pizza senza cipolla, per favore.
I would like a pizza without onion, please.
vohr-RAY OO-nah PEET-tsah SEN-tsa CHEE-pohl-lah, pehr fah-VOH-reh
This is a full sentence using the conditional 'vorrei' (I would like), which is very polite. You can replace 'pizza' with any dish.
Potrebbe aggiungere un po' più di salsa?
Could you add a little more sauce?
poh-TREB-beh ad-DOON-jeh-reh oon poh pyoo dee SAHL-sah
This is a polite request using the conditional 'potrebbe' (could you). It's useful when you want to ask for more sauce in a restaurant.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To say 'without' something, use 'senza' + the ingredient. For example, 'senza cipolla' (without onion), 'senza formaggio' (without cheese), 'senza glutine' (without gluten). To say 'with extra' something, use 'con' + 'extra' + the item: 'con salsa extra' (with extra sauce), 'con formaggio extra' (with extra cheese). You can also use 'un po' più di' (a little more) for a more polite request: 'un po' più di salsa' (a little more sauce). Remember to add 'per favore' to be polite.
When to use it
Use these phrases when ordering food at a restaurant, pizzeria, or takeaway. For example, if you don't like onions, say 'Senza cipolla, per favore' when ordering. If you want more sauce, say 'Con salsa extra, per favore' or 'Potrebbe aggiungere un po' più di salsa?'. In a more formal setting, use 'Vorrei' (I would like) instead of 'Voglio' (I want), which can sound abrupt. At a casual eatery, 'Senza cipolla, per favore' is perfectly fine.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buonasera, vorrei ordinare una pizza margherita.
Good evening, I would like to order a margherita pizza.bwoh-nah-SEH-rah, vohr-RAY or-dee-NAH-reh OO-nah PEET-tsah mar-geh-REE-tahCerto. Desidera altro?
Of course. Would you like anything else?CHEHR-toh. deh-zee-DEH-rah AHL-trohSì, senza cipolla, per favore. E anche con salsa extra.
Yes, no onions, please. And also with extra sauce.see, SEN-tsa CHEE-pohl-lah, pehr fah-VOH-reh. eh AHN-keh kohn SAHL-sah EKS-trahVa bene. Una margherita senza cipolla e con salsa extra.
All right. One margherita without onion and with extra sauce.vah BEH-neh. OO-nah mar-geh-REE-tah SEN-tsa CHEE-pohl-lah eh kohn SAHL-sah EKS-trahA little context goes a long way
In Italy, it's common to customize dishes, but it's polite to ask nicely. Using 'per favore' and conditional forms like 'vorrei' or 'potrebbe' shows respect. In some traditional restaurants, modifications might be discouraged, but in most places, they are accepted. If you have a dietary need, such as an allergy, it's important to state it clearly, but this lesson focuses on preferences, which are usually accommodated without issue.
One thing to watch for
Using 'Voglio' (I want) to make requests, which can sound rude.
Try this instead: Use 'Vorrei' (I would like) instead. For example, say 'Vorrei una pizza senza cipolla' rather than 'Voglio una pizza senza cipolla'. 'Vorrei' is polite and appropriate in restaurants.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'No onions, please' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Senza cipolla, per favore.
This uses 'senza' (without) + 'cipolla' (onion) + 'per favore' (please). You can also say 'Senza cipolle, per favore' with the plural, which is equally correct.
2How would you ask for extra sauce politely?
Show a sample answer
Con salsa extra, per favore.
This means 'With extra sauce, please.' You could also say 'Potrebbe aggiungere un po' più di salsa?' for a more formal request. Both are polite.
3What is the polite way to say 'I would like a pizza without onion'?
Show a sample answer
Vorrei una pizza senza cipolla.
Using 'vorrei' (I would like) is polite. You can add 'per favore' at the end for extra politeness. 'Voglio' would be too direct.
Use 'senza' for 'without' and 'con extra' for 'with extra', and always add 'per favore'. The conditional 'vorrei' makes your request polite.
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