When you eat out, you may need to ask whether a dish contains a common allergen. In this workshop you will practice three short questions about nuts, dairy, and gluten, and you will learn to understand clear yes/no answers, including a warning that a dish is not safe for you. You will speak both roles: the person asking and the person answering. The goal is simple, polite, and clear communication, not perfect grammar.
Asking About One Ingredient
Start with a short question about a single ingredient. «¿Esto contiene nueces?» means "Does this contain nuts?" «¿Esto contiene lácteos?» means "Does this contain dairy?" «¿Esto contiene gluten?» means "Does this contain gluten?" These are direct yes/no questions. You can point to a dish or menu item while you ask. Keep your tone calm and polite. If you want to state your own allergy instead of asking, use «Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.», which means "I am allergic to nuts." That sentence is about you, not about the dish. In a real situation, you can combine a statement and a question: say «Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.» first, then ask «¿Esto contiene nueces?». This makes your need clear before the other person answers.
A Full Exchange: Question, Answer, Follow-Up
A longer exchange usually has four steps: you ask, the other person answers, you ask a follow-up, and the other person answers again. In the recorded dialogue, the first question is «Disculpe, ¿este platillo contiene nueces?», which means "Excuse me, does this dish contain nuts?" The answer is «No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.», which means "No, it doesn't contain nuts. But it does contain dairy." Notice that the answer gives both good news and a warning. Then the follow-up question is «¿Y contiene gluten?», which means "And does it contain gluten?" The final answer is «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.», which means "Yes, it contains gluten. It's not safe for you." This last line is a clear warning. When you hear it, do not order the dish. Instead, thank the person and choose something else.
Listening for Yes, No, and Warnings
In these answers, listen for two things: the yes/no word and the ingredient. «No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.» starts with a no about nuts, then adds a but about dairy. «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.» starts with a yes about gluten, then adds a warning. Do not stop listening after the first word. The second part of the answer often contains the most important information for your safety. If you hear a warning like the one in «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.», treat the dish as unsafe for you. If you are not sure what you heard, repeat your question from «¿Esto contiene nueces?», «¿Esto contiene lácteos?», or «¿Esto contiene gluten?». It is fine to ask again. Clear communication matters more than speed.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
¿Esto contiene nueces?
Does this contain nuts?
ES-toh kon-tee-EH-neh NWEH-ses
¿Esto contiene lácteos?
Does this contain dairy?
ES-toh kon-tee-EH-neh LAK-teh-os
¿Esto contiene gluten?
Does this contain gluten?
ES-toh kon-tee-EH-neh GLOO-ten
Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.
I am allergic to nuts.
soy ah-LER-hee-koh/ah ah los FROO-tos SEH-kos
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Disculpe, ¿este platillo contiene nueces?
Excuse me, does this dish contain nuts?No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.
No, it doesn't contain nuts. But it does contain dairy.¿Y contiene gluten?
And does it contain gluten?Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.
Yes, it contains gluten. It's not safe for you.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 and Answer
You are at a small restaurant. You want to check one dish before ordering. Work with a partner or play both roles yourself.
Your task: Role A asks about nuts using «Disculpe, ¿este platillo contiene nueces?». Role B answers using «No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.». Then Role A asks the follow-up using «¿Y contiene gluten?», and Role B answers using «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.». After one full round, swap roles and repeat the same order: question, answer, follow-up, answer.
Reply Comprehension: Choose the Safe Response
You hear an answer about a dish. You must decide what it means before you order. Read each situation and choose the best response from the taught lines.
Your task: Situation 1: You ask about nuts and hear «No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.». Is the dish free of nuts? Is it free of dairy? Situation 2: You ask about gluten and hear «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.». Is the dish safe for you? For each situation, say your answer out loud, then say the line you would use next from «¿Esto contiene nueces?», «¿Esto contiene lácteos?», «¿Esto contiene gluten?», or «Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.».
Recall With Correct Roles
Now you will rebuild the full exchange from memory. One person is the customer and one person is the staff member. The customer asks; the staff member answers.
Your task: Customer: ask about nuts using «Disculpe, ¿este platillo contiene nueces?». Staff: answer using «No, no contiene nueces. Pero sí contiene lácteos.». Customer: ask the follow-up using «¿Y contiene gluten?». Staff: answer using «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.». Do this once with the lines visible, then once without looking. Then swap roles and repeat in the same order.
Common questions
Can I use these lines if I am the one with the allergy?
Yes. Say «Soy alérgico/a a los frutos secos.» to state your allergy, then ask «¿Esto contiene nueces?», «¿Esto contiene lácteos?», or «¿Esto contiene gluten?» about the dish. This tells the other person your need before they answer.
What should I do if I hear the warning in «Sí, contiene gluten. No es seguro para usted.»?
Treat the dish as not safe for you. Do not order it. Thank the person and choose something else, or ask about another dish using the same questions.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: ask about allergensChecked September 2026
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