How to Say 'I Am Allergic to Peanuts' in Spanish (and Why It's Not the Same as Gluten-Free)
Learn to state peanut and other allergies in Latin American Spanish, and understand why allergy is different from gluten-free.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
If you need to tell someone in Spanish that you are allergic to peanuts, the key phrase is 'Soy alérgico' (if you are male) or 'Soy alérgica' (if you are female) followed by 'a los cacahuates'. This lesson teaches you that pattern and other common allergens. It also explains why this is not the same as saying you are gluten-free: an allergy involves your immune system reacting to a specific protein, while gluten-free is often a dietary choice or a different medical condition. You will practice clear sentences to use in restaurants, at homes, or when shopping.
By the end, you can…
- say I am allergic to peanuts in Spanish.
- ask if a food contains peanuts or other allergens.
- explain that my allergy is not the same as being gluten-free.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Soy alérgico a los cacahuates.
I am allergic to peanuts. (said by a male)
soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah lohs kah-kah-WAH-tehs
Use if you are male. In Spain, the word for peanuts is 'cacahuetes'.
Soy alérgica a los cacahuates.
I am allergic to peanuts. (said by a female)
soy ah-LEHR-hee-kah ah lohs kah-kah-WAH-tehs
Use if you are female. The ending changes to -a.
¿Este platillo tiene cacahuates?
Does this dish have peanuts?
EHS-teh plah-TEE-yoh TYEH-neh kah-kah-WAH-tehs
Use in a restaurant to ask about a specific dish. 'Platillo' is common in Mexico; in other regions, 'plato' is also used.
Tengo alergia a los mariscos.
I have a seafood allergy.
TEHN-goh ah-LEHR-hyah ah lohs mah-REES-kohs
Use 'Tengo alergia a...' to state any allergy. 'Mariscos' covers shellfish and seafood.
No puedo comer gluten, pero no es una alergia.
I cannot eat gluten, but it is not an allergy.
noh PWEH-doh koh-MEHR GLOO-tehn PEH-roh noh ehs OO-nah ah-LEHR-hyah
Use this to clarify that being gluten-free is different from an allergy. It helps avoid confusion.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To state an allergy, use 'Soy alérgico/a a...' or 'Tengo alergia a...'. For example: 'Soy alérgico a los cacahuates' (I am allergic to peanuts). 'Tengo alergia a la penicilina' (I have a penicillin allergy). The word after 'a' is the allergen. Use 'los' or 'la' according to the gender and number of the noun. For peanuts, 'los cacahuates' is plural. For shellfish, 'los mariscos' is plural. For a single item like 'la penicilina', use 'la'.
When to use it
Use these phrases when ordering food, shopping, or visiting someone's home. For example, at a restaurant: '¿Este platillo tiene cacahuates? Soy alérgico.' At a friend's house: 'Gracias, pero tengo alergia a los cacahuates.' If you need to explain the difference from gluten-free, say: 'No puedo comer gluten, pero no es una alergia; es una intolerancia.' This clarifies that your body does not have an immune reaction.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Buenas tardes, ¿este platillo tiene cacahuates?
Good afternoon, does this dish have peanuts?BWEH-nahs TAR-dehs EHS-teh plah-TEE-yoh TYEH-neh kah-kah-WAH-tehsSí, lleva cacahuates. ¿Es usted alérgico?
Yes, it has peanuts. Are you allergic?see YEH-vah kah-kah-WAH-tehs ehs oos-TEHD ah-LEHR-hee-kohSí, soy alérgico a los cacahuates. ¿Hay alguna opción sin cacahuates?
Yes, I am allergic to peanuts. Is there any option without peanuts?see soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah lohs kah-kah-WAH-tehs eye ahl-GOO-nah op-SYOHN seen kah-kah-WAH-tehsSí, la ensalada no tiene cacahuates. ¿También es alérgico al gluten?
Yes, the salad does not have peanuts. Are you also allergic to gluten?see lah ehn-sah-LAH-dah noh TYEH-neh kah-kah-WAH-tehs tahm-BYEHN ehs ah-LEHR-hee-koh ahl GLOO-tehnA little context goes a long way
In Latin America, peanut allergy is taken seriously, but awareness varies. In restaurants, it is common to ask about ingredients. The word for peanuts varies: 'cacahuates' in Mexico and Central America, 'maní' in parts of South America and the Caribbean, and 'cacahuetes' in Spain. If you say 'Soy alérgico al maní', you will be understood in many places. Always specify clearly and ask about cross-contamination if your allergy is severe.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Soy alérgico a gluten' to mean you are gluten-free.
Try this instead: Gluten-free is not the same as an allergy. If you have celiac disease or choose gluten-free, say 'No puedo comer gluten' or 'Soy intolerante al gluten'. For an allergy, use 'Soy alérgico al gluten' only if you truly have an immune reaction. Example: 'No puedo comer gluten, pero no es una alergia.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would a female say 'I am allergic to peanuts' in Latin American Spanish?
Show a sample answer
Soy alérgica a los cacahuates.
This uses the feminine form 'alérgica' and the plural 'cacahuates'. In Spain, you would say 'cacahuetes'.
2Translate: 'Does this dish have peanuts?'
Show a sample answer
¿Este platillo tiene cacahuates?
This is a polite question for restaurants. You can also say '¿Este plato tiene maní?' in regions where 'maní' is used.
3Explain in Spanish that you cannot eat gluten but it is not an allergy.
Show a sample answer
No puedo comer gluten, pero no es una alergia.
This clarifies the difference. You could also say 'Soy intolerante al gluten' if you have a sensitivity.
Use 'Soy alérgico/a a...' or 'Tengo alergia a...' to state allergies. Remember that allergy is not the same as gluten-free; clarify with 'No puedo comer gluten, pero no es una alergia.'
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