In this workshop you practise a short restaurant exchange in Spanish. You will say that you are vegetarian, explain that you do not eat meat or chicken, ask whether a dish contains meat, and understand the reply. The recordings give you the exact lines to use, so you can repeat them aloud and then swap roles with a partner or with the audio.
Saying you are vegetarian and what you don't eat
Start with the key statement. A male speaker says «Soy vegetariano.», which means "I am vegetarian." A female speaker says «Soy vegetariana.», which has the same meaning. Choose the line that matches the speaker. Then add what you do not eat: «No como carne ni pollo.» means "I don't eat meat or chicken." Say each line slowly, then repeat it at a natural speed. Keep the meaning clear: you are describing your diet, not asking a question.
Asking about a dish and understanding the answer
In a restaurant, you can begin politely with «Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda?», which means "Good afternoon. What do you recommend?" The other person may answer with a suggestion such as «Le recomiendo el pollo con arroz.», which means "I recommend the chicken with rice." If that dish does not suit you, use «Soy vegetariana. No como carne ni pollo. ¿Lleva carne la sopa de verduras?»: "I am vegetarian. I don't eat meat or chicken. Does the vegetable soup contain meat?" Listen for the reply «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.», which means "No, the soup doesn't contain meat. We also have salad and beans." Notice that the answer first responds to your question about the soup, then offers other options.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Soy vegetariano.
I am vegetarian. (said by a male speaker)
soy beh-heh-tah-RYAH-noh
Soy vegetariana.
I am vegetarian. (said by a female speaker)
soy beh-heh-tah-RYAH-nah
No como carne ni pollo.
I don't eat meat or chicken.
noh KOH-moh KAR-neh nee POH-yoh
Tampoco como pescado ni mariscos.
I also don't eat fish or seafood.
tahm-POH-koh KOH-moh pehs-KAH-doh nee mah-REES-kohs
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda?
Good afternoon. What do you recommend?Le recomiendo el pollo con arroz.
I recommend the chicken with rice.Soy vegetariana. No como carne ni pollo. ¿Lleva carne la sopa de verduras?
I am vegetarian. I don't eat meat or chicken. Does the vegetable soup contain meat?No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.
No, the soup doesn't contain meat. We also have salad and beans.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided restaurant exchange
You are the customer in a restaurant. Your partner or the audio plays the staff member. Use only the lines you have practised.
Your task: Say the greeting and ask for a recommendation using «Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda?». Then, after you hear the suggestion «Le recomiendo el pollo con arroz.», explain your diet with «Soy vegetariano.» or «Soy vegetariana.», add «No como carne ni pollo.», and ask about the soup with «¿Lleva carne la sopa de verduras?». Your partner replies with «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.». Repeat the exchange once more, trying to speak without looking at the text.
Choose the right reply
Read the situation and choose the line that fits. All choices come from the recordings.
Your task: Situation 1: You are a customer and you want a recommendation. Do you say «Buenas tardes. ¿Qué me recomienda?» or «Le recomiendo el pollo con arroz.»? Situation 2: The staff member recommends chicken with rice. You are vegetarian and want to ask about the soup. Do you say «¿Lleva carne la sopa de verduras?» or «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.»? Situation 3: The staff member answers your question about the soup. Do you expect «¿Lleva carne la sopa de verduras?» or «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.»?
Recall and role swap
Work with a partner or the audio. You will recall the exchange from memory, then change roles.
Your task: First, as the customer, say the greeting and ask for a recommendation. Then explain that you are vegetarian and do not eat meat or chicken. Ask if the vegetable soup contains meat. Your partner gives the answer. After that, swap roles: your partner is the customer and you are the staff member. Use «Le recomiendo el pollo con arroz.» and «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.» in your replies.
Common questions
Do I need to choose between «Soy vegetariano.» and «Soy vegetariana.»?
Yes. Both mean "I am vegetarian," but one is said by a male speaker and the other by a female speaker. Choose the line that matches the person speaking. If you are speaking about yourself, use the line that fits you.
What should I listen for in the staff member's answer?
Listen for the first word of «No, la sopa no lleva carne. También tenemos ensalada y frijoles.», which answers your question about the soup. The reply says the soup does not contain meat, then offers salad and beans. That means you can ask about those options next, but you do not need to invent new lines in this workshop.
Sources and further reading
- spanish: explain vegetarian dietChecked September 2026
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