Dietary & Allergies

1. Is feoilséantóir mé.

   I am vegetarian.

   Usage

   Declares vegetarianism

   Grammar Note

   "Is + noun + pronoun" is the copular pattern

2. Is végeán mé agus ní ithim aon táirgí ainmhithe.

   I'm vegan and don't eat any animal products.

   Usage

   Avoids all animal-derived foods

   Grammar Note

   "ní" is the negative verb particle

3. Tá ailléirge cnónna orm.

   I have a nut allergy.

   Usage

   Tree-nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Tá ... orm" expresses "I have ~" (lit. is on me)

4. An bhfuil biachlár saor ó ghlútan agaibh?

   Do you have a gluten-free menu?

   Usage

   Standard celiac question

   Grammar Note

   "An bhfuil ... agaibh" asks possession

5. Is Moslamach mé agus ní ithim muiceoil.

   I'm Muslim and don't eat pork.

   Usage

   Declares Muslim observance

   Grammar Note

   Compound "muic + feoil"

6. Tá éadulaingt lachtóis agam.

   I am lactose intolerant.

   Usage

   Declares lactose intolerance

   Grammar Note

   "éa-" is the negative prefix

7. Tá ailléirge sliogéisc orm.

   I have a shellfish allergy.

   Usage

   Shellfish allergy

   Grammar Note

   Compound "sliog + iasc"

8. Cad iad na comhábhair atá sa mhias seo?

   What ingredients are in this dish?

   Usage

   Standard ingredient-check question

   Grammar Note

   "Cad iad" = "what are"

9. An féidir leat é a dhéanamh gan oinniúin?

   Can you make it without onion?

   Usage

   Request to omit an ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "An féidir leat" = "Is it possible for you"

10. Tá ailléirge uibheacha orm.

    I have an egg allergy.

    Usage

    Watch for hidden eggs

    Grammar Note

    Singular "ubh", plural "uibheacha"

11. An bhfuil eolas faoi ailléirginí agaibh?

    Do you have allergen information?

    Usage

    Mandatory in EU restaurants

    Grammar Note

    "faoi + noun" = "about ~"

12. Tá an ailléirge seo bagrach don bheatha. Bí an-chúramach, le do thoil.

    This allergy is life-threatening. Please be very careful.

    Usage

    Communicates anaphylaxis risk

    Grammar Note

    "Bí" is the imperative of "bí"

13. An bhfuil ola piseanna talún ann?

    Is there peanut oil in it?

    Usage

    Important at Asian restaurants

    Grammar Note

    Irish for a peanut is "pis talún", with the genitive plural "piseanna talún". Peanut butter is "im piseanna talún", and "ola piseanna talún" follows the same pattern (the official term is "ola araicise"). "ann" is the prepositional pronoun "in it"

14. An úsáideann sibh trealamh ar leith do bhia gan ailléirgíní?

    Do you use separate equipment for allergen-free food?

    Usage

    Checks cross-contamination

    Grammar Note

    "sibh" is 2nd-person plural pronoun

15. Go raibh maith agaibh as freastal ar mo riachtanais aiste bia.

    Thank you for catering to my dietary needs.

    Usage

    Polite gratitude

    Grammar Note

    "Go raibh maith agaibh" is plural "thank you"

16. Ar chúiseanna creidimh, ní ithim mairteoil.

    For religious reasons, I don't eat beef.

    Usage

    Explains religious avoidance of beef

    Grammar Note

    "Ar + noun" = "for ~"

17. muiceoil

    Pork

    Usage

    Word card to point at when checking whether a dish contains pork

    Grammar Note

    From "muc" (pig) + "feoil" (meat); feminine. Bacon is "bagún", ham is "liamhás"

18. mairteoil

    Beef

    Usage

    Word card to point at when checking whether a dish contains beef

    Grammar Note

    From "mart" (beef animal) + "feoil"; feminine. Veal is "laofheoil"

19. sicín

    Chicken

    Usage

    Word card to point at when checking whether a dish contains chicken

    Grammar Note

    "Sicín" (masc.) covers both the live bird and the meat

20. iasc

    Fish

    Usage

    Point at it for a fish allergy or a dietary restriction

    Grammar Note

    "Iasc" (masc.), plural "éisc". Ask separately about fish sauce and stock

21. ubh

    Egg

    Usage

    Point at it for an egg allergy or when checking a vegan option

    Grammar Note

    "Ubh" (fem.), plural "uibheacha"

22. táirgí bainne

    Dairy products

    Usage

    Point at it for lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "táirge" (product) + "bainne" (milk); lactose is "lachtós"

23. pis talún

    Peanut

    Usage

    Point at it for a peanut allergy — distinct from tree nuts ("cnónna")

    Grammar Note

    Literally "pea of the ground"; plural "piseanna talún". Peanut oil is "ola piseanna talún"

24. cnónna

    Nuts

    Usage

    Tree nuts in general; point at it to check whether a dish contains them

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "cnó". Peanuts are legumes and are called "pis talún" instead

25. sliogéisc

    Shellfish

    Usage

    Covers prawns, crab and molluscs together; use it to check for anaphylaxis risks

    Grammar Note

    From "sliogán" (shell) + "iasc" (fish). Crustaceans alone are "crústaigh"

26. cruithneacht

    Wheat

    Usage

    Point at it for a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance

    Grammar Note

    "Cruithneacht" (fem.); gluten is "glútan" and gluten-free is "gan ghlútan"

27. pónaire shoighe

    Soya bean

    Usage

    Point at it for a soya allergy; soy sauce is "anlann soighe"

    Grammar Note

    "Pónaire" is feminine, so the following genitive "soighe" lenites to "shoighe"

28. síolta seasamain

    Sesame seeds

    Usage

    Point at it for a sesame allergy — a labelled allergen under EU rules

    Grammar Note

    Plural of "síol" (seed) + genitive of "seasamain" (sesame)

29. alcól

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Point at it to check for cooking alcohol when you avoid it for religious or medical reasons

    Grammar Note

    "Alcól" is masculine; "without alcohol" is "gan alcól"

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