Soy celíaco
/soi θeliako/from spelling rules
To say "I am coeliac" in Spanish, you use Soy celíaco.
This phrase is the standard way to inform restaurant staff or hosts about a gluten intolerance due to celiac disease. You can also use Tengo celiaquía as an alternative way to state the condition by using the noun for the disease.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the verb soy because being coeliac is considered a permanent characteristic or identity in Spanish. If the speaker is female, the adjective must change from the masculine celíaco to the feminine celíaca.
Did you know?
- While Soy celíaco is used for the medical condition, people with a non-medical sensitivity often say No tolero el gluten to avoid being mistaken for having the autoimmune disease.
- The word celíaco shares a root with the English word 'celiac', but both actually trace back to the Greek word for 'belly'.
- In Spain, you will often see the phrase Sin gluten on menus, but you might also see the symbol of a crossed-out ear of wheat, which is the universal sign for 'gluten-free'.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, soy celíaco, por lo que debo evitar el gluten en mis comidas.Excuse me, I am coeliac, so I must avoid gluten in my meals.
- Necesito saber si este plato tiene gluten, ya que tengo la enfermedad celíaca.I need to know if this dish has gluten because I have coeliac disease.
- ¡Oye, soy celíaco! ¿Sabes si esta comida es libre de gluten?Hey, I am coeliac! Do you know if this food is gluten-free?
- Mis amigos ya lo saben, tengo intolerancia al gluten, así que siempre buscan opciones sin gluten para mí.My friends already know, I have gluten intolerance, so they always look for gluten-free options for me.
- Prefiero no arriesgar, el gluten me hace daño, así que prefiero comer algo libre de gluten.I prefer not to take risks, gluten harms me, so I'd rather eat something gluten-free.
- Soy celíaco y no puedo comer pan.I am coeliac and I cannot eat bread.
- No puedo probar la pasta porque soy celíaco.I cannot try the pasta because I am coeliac.
- Por favor, ten cuidado, soy celíaco.Please, be careful, I am coeliac.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are ordering food at a restaurant.
- Alejandro¿Tienen opciones sin gluten?Do you have gluten-free options?
- MaríaSí, tenemos ensaladas especiales.Yes, we have special salads.
- AlejandroPerfecto, es que soy celíaco.Perfect, it is just that I am coeliac.
- MaríaEntendido, Alejandro, no te preocupes.Understood, Alejandro, don't worry.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries celíaco, soy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
