Celiac/Gluten Free Italian Vocabulary
With the world heading back to some sort of normalcy again, I know we all have one thing on our minds…traveling again! **Currently, Italy is welcoming American tourists who are vaccinated and can provide a negative test upon arrival. So if you’ve been postponing your Italian adventure due to COVID, now is the time to start making plans again! This means it’s also time to brush up on your Italian to communicate your gluten-free needs.
You should all know by now (because it’s all I talk about!) that Italy is incredibly safe for celiacs. I have truly never visited a country that handled gluten-free food better than Italy. So there is absolutely no need to stress about finding safe food. Speaking of which: if you have not already done so, I highly recommend downloading the AIC app to get access to the map of certified gluten-free restaurants across the country. Plus, you can check out my gluten-free travel guides for many Italian cities on Thatch travel.
Many people in the bigger cities will speak English but it’s a good idea to have some basic Italian in your back pocket to eliminate any possible confusion. Especially if you plan on doing any traveling off the beaten path.
Below is a list of key vocab words to keep an eye out for when reading menus and packaging, and some basic sentences for dining out.
Celiac/Gluten Free Italian Vocabulary:
La celiachia- celiac disease
Senza glutine- gluten free
Contiene glutine- contains gluten
Può contenere glutine- may contain gluten
La contaminazione- contamination
Frumento/Grano- wheat
Orzo- barley
Segale- rye
Spelta- spelt
Avena- oats
Associazione Italiana Celiachia (AIC)- Italian Celiac Association
Basic sentences:
Sono celiaco/a- I am a celiac
Sono intollerante al glutine- I am gluten intolerant
È senza glutine?- is it gluten free?
Si può fare senza glutine- can it be made gluten free?
Avete un menù senza glutine?- do you have a gluten free menu?
and don’t forget to say grazie (thank you!) to the super helpful wait staff:)
I have also created a Quizlet deck to help you practice before your travels! Check it out here.
Happy traveling!
xo,
Catalin
**Posted October 19, 2021. Please check the restrictions and requirements of your destination before planning any travel…rules change on a daily basis!