Introduction
Knowing how to say I am allergic to peanuts in Spanish can be essential when traveling, dining out, or visiting Spanish-speaking friends. This article explains clear, polite, and practical ways to communicate a peanut allergy, with useful phrases, pronunciation tips, and real-world examples to help beginner to intermediate learners speak confidently.
Basic phrase: I am allergic to peanuts
The simplest and most direct way to say I am allergic to peanuts is Soy alérgico a los cacahuetes for male speakers or Soy alérgica a los cacahuetes for female speakers. Use this form when you want to state your allergy clearly to restaurant staff, host families, or medical personnel.
Explanation of parts:
• Soy comes from the verb ser and means I am.
• Alérgico/Alérgica means allergic, and must match your gender.
• A means to.
• Los cacahuetes means peanuts (common in Spain).
Alternative words for peanuts
In many Spanish-speaking countries peanuts are called maní, while in Spain cacahuetes is more common. Choose the word that matches your audience.
Examples:
• In Mexico and many parts of Latin America say Soy alérgico a los maníes or more naturally Soy alérgico al maní.
• In Spain say Soy alérgico a los cacahuetes.
Polite ways to communicate your allergy
When speaking to restaurant staff or a host, polite phrasing helps. Start with excuse me or could you help and then state your allergy.
Polite phrases:
• Disculpe, soy alérgico a los cacahuetes / Disculpe, soy alérgica al maní
• Perdón, tengo alergia al maní
• ¿Podría decirme si esto tiene cacahuetes?
Note that Disculpe and Perdón are polite ways to get attention.
Using the verb tener for allergies
Another common structure uses the verb tener: Tengo alergia al maní or Tengo alergia a los cacahuetes. This literally means I have an allergy to peanuts and is widely used and understood.
Examples:
• Tengo alergia al maní, ¿este platillo lo contiene?
• Tengo alergia a los cacahuetes; ¿podrían confirmarlo?
Short phrases for quick communication
In noisy places or quick interactions, short direct phrases are useful.
Short options:
• Sin cacahuetes, por favor — without peanuts, please.
• Sin maní, por favor — without peanuts, please.
• Es alérgico al maní — He/She is allergic to peanuts (useful if ordering for someone else).
Specifying severity and cross-contamination
Sometimes you need to explain the severity of the allergy or ask about cross-contamination. Use clear phrases to communicate risk.
Examples:
• Es muy grave; puede causar una reacción — It is very serious; it can cause a reaction.
• Puedo tener una reacción severa si hay trazas de maní — I can have a severe reaction if there are traces of peanuts.
• ¿Hay posibilidad de contaminación cruzada? — Is there a possibility of cross-contamination?
How to say it in a restaurant: sample dialogues
Short dialogues help you practice realistic interactions. Use gender-appropriate forms where needed.
Example 1 — At a cafe:
Customer: Disculpe, soy alérgica al maní
Waiter: ¿Tiene alguna sugerencia?
Customer: ¿Cuál de estos postres no contiene cacahuetes?
Example 2 — Ordering food:
Customer: Perdón, tengo alergia a los cacahuetes
Cook: Lo entiendo, prepararemos su plato sin maní.
Customer: Gracias, por favor asegúrese de que no toque otros ingredientes
Useful vocabulary for food contexts
Learning a few related words makes conversations smoother.
• Alergia / *alergia* — allergy
• Reacción / *reacción* — reaction
• Contaminación cruzada / *contaminación cruzada* — cross-contamination
• Trazas / *trazas* — traces
• Ingredientes / *ingredientes* — ingredients
• Sin / *sin* — without
Pronunciation tips
Pronounce the important words clearly so listeners understand quickly.
• Soy sounds like soy in English; the o is short.
• Alérgico / Alérgica stress is on the second syllable: a-LER-gi-co / a-LER-gi-ca.
• Cacahuetes is ca-ca-HUE-tes with the stress on HUE.
• Maní places stress on the second syllable: ma-NÍ (note the accent mark in Spanish).
Gender and number agreement
Spanish adjectives agree with the speaker or subject. For allergies say Soy alérgico if male, Soy alérgica if female. When referring to someone else, match gender and number: Mi hijo es alérgico al maní or Mis hijos son alérgicos.
Writing it down: allergy cards and notes
Carrying a small card in Spanish can be invaluable. Keep it short and clear so restaurant staff can show it to cooks.
Sample card text:
ALERGIA AL MANÍ
Tengo alergia severa al maní. Por favor, sin cacahuetes ni trazas. Gracias.
Medical contexts and emergency language
In case you need to communicate quickly in a medical setting, use clear and direct language. Stick to simple phrases and mention known reactions or treatments you carry, like an epinephrine auto-injector if applicable.
Important phrases:
• Tengo alergia al maní y puedo tener una reacción severa
• Llevo adrenalina/epinefrina — I carry adrenaline/epinephrine
• Necesito ayuda médica — I need medical help
Common mistakes and usage notes
Beginners may mix up maní and cacahuetes or forget gender agreement. Also, avoid literal translations that sound unnatural. Use Soy alérgico a or Tengo alergia a rather than awkward forms like I have allergy.
Usage notes:
• In many Latin American countries maní is the everyday term; in Spain use cacahuetes.
• Always specify severity if it could cause a serious reaction.
• When in doubt, use simple, polite language and show a written card.
Additional polite phrases to learn
Adding brief polite lines makes interactions friendlier.
• Muchas gracias por su ayuda — Thank you very much for your help.
• ¿Me puede confirmar los ingredientes, por favor? — Can you confirm the ingredients, please?
• Lo agradezco — I appreciate it.
Conclusion
Being able to say I am allergic to peanuts in Spanish is straightforward but important. Use Soy alérgico/a a los cacahuetes or Tengo alergia al maní, choose the local word for peanuts, note gender agreement, and carry a short written card when necessary. Clear, polite phrasing helps ensure your safety and comfort when dining or traveling in Spanish-speaking places.
