When you eat out or buy food, you may need to ask what is inside a dish. In this workshop you practise short questions about ingredients, listen for the answer, and respond when someone offers you an alternative. You will use the recorded lines as your model, then take both roles yourself so you can hear the question and the reply.
Asking a simple ingredient question
Start with a short question. The line «Ist da Knoblauch drin?» means 'Is there garlic in it?' and the line «Enthält das Nüsse?» means 'Does this contain nuts?' Both are direct ways to ask about one ingredient. If you need to name your own allergy, the line «Ich bin allergisch gegen Milch.» means 'I am allergic to milk.' You can also ask for a change: «Kann ich das ohne Zwiebeln bekommen?» means 'Can I have that without onions?' Keep your voice calm and friendly, and say the ingredient clearly. When you ask, look at the person and wait for the answer before you add more.
A full exchange in a restaurant
In a longer exchange, one person asks and the other answers. The line «Entschuldigung, ist da Knoblauch in der Suppe?» means 'Excuse me, is there garlic in the soup?' The reply «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?» means 'Yes, a little. Would you like something without garlic?' The first speaker then says «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?», which means 'Yes, please. I am allergic to garlic. Is there an alternative?' The staff member answers with «Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.»: 'We also have a tomato soup without garlic.' Notice the order: question, answer, follow-up question, then a new offer. Keep that order when you practise, even if you swap who plays each role.
Listening for the key word
When someone answers your ingredient question, listen for the ingredient word and for words like 'without' or 'also'. In «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?» the answer starts with 'Yes, a little', so the ingredient is present. In «Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.» the answer offers a different dish, so the first dish is not suitable. If you hear a question back, such as in «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?», you can answer with a short 'Yes, please' as in «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?». Do not guess; if you are not sure, repeat your ingredient question slowly.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Ist da Knoblauch drin?
Is there garlic in it?
ist dah K'NOHP-lowkh drin
Enthält das Nüsse?
Does this contain nuts?
ent-HALT dahs NÜS-seh
Ich bin allergisch gegen Milch.
I am allergic to milk.
ikh bin ah-LAIR-gish GAY-gen milkh
Kann ich das ohne Zwiebeln bekommen?
Can I have that without onions?
kahn ikh dahs OH-neh TSVEE-beln beh-KOM-men
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Entschuldigung, ist da Knoblauch in der Suppe?
Excuse me, is there garlic in the soup?Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?
Yes, a little. Would you like something without garlic?Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?
Yes, please. I am allergic to garlic. Is there an alternative?Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.
We also have a tomato soup without garlic.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask about garlic in the soup
You are a guest in a small restaurant. The server is standing at your table. You want to know whether the soup contains garlic.
Your task: Read the guest part aloud, then play the server part from the recording. Use the recorded lines in this order: first «Entschuldigung, ist da Knoblauch in der Suppe?», then listen to «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?», then say «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?», then listen to «Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.». After that, swap roles: you read the server lines and let the recording be the guest.
Reply comprehension: choose the matching answer
You asked whether there is garlic in the soup. You hear the recorded reply «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?». In the task below are three possible responses. Only one matches the reply and keeps the conversation moving.
Your task: Choose the best response: A) «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?» B) «Ist da Knoblauch drin?» C) «Kann ich das ohne Zwiebeln bekommen?». Say your choice aloud, then say the full line. After that, answer this question: in «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?», is garlic in the soup or not?
Recall with correct roles: guest and server
Work with a partner or read both roles yourself. One person is the guest and one is the server. The guest has a garlic allergy and wants an alternative.
Your task: From memory, say the four lines in order. The guest begins with the question «Entschuldigung, ist da Knoblauch in der Suppe?». The server replies with «Ja, ein bisschen. Möchten Sie etwas ohne Knoblauch?». The guest follows up with «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?». The server offers the alternative with «Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.». Then swap roles and say the same four lines in the same order.
Common questions
Can I use these lines for other ingredients, such as nuts or milk?
Yes. You can ask with «Enthält das Nüsse?» for nuts or state an allergy with «Ich bin allergisch gegen Milch.» for milk. Keep the ingredient word clear and wait for the reply before you ask your follow-up question.
What should I do if I do not understand the answer?
Stay calm and repeat your ingredient question slowly. You can also ask for an alternative, as in «Ja, bitte. Ich bin allergisch gegen Knoblauch. Gibt es eine Alternative?». If the person offers a different dish, listen for the word 'without' in the answer, as in «Wir haben auch eine Tomatensuppe ohne Knoblauch.», and then decide if it is suitable for you.
Sources and further reading
- german: ask about ingredients in detailChecked September 2026
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