How to Say "No Meat" in Italian

senza carne

/ˈsɛn.t͡sa ˈkar.ne/word by word

senza carne is the Italian way to say "no meat".

This phrase is used to specify that a dish or ingredient is free of meat, often used in restaurants or when discussing dietary restrictions.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase is composed of the preposition senza (without) and the noun carne (meat).

The word carne remains in its singular form even when referring to a general absence of meat products.

It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.

The word carne shares its root with the English word 'carnival'. This is because the period of 'carnival' was originally a feast of meat before the fasting period of Lent.
In Italy, the word carne refers to all animal flesh, but a dish labeled senza carne might still contain fish. To specify no animal products at all, a person would say vegano.
The word carne shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'skin', both tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to cut'.

Mi scusi, ma io non mangio carne.
Excuse me, but I don't eat meat.
Sono vegetariana, quindi preferirei un'opzione senza carne, per favore.
I'm vegetarian, so I would prefer a meat-free option, please.
Dai, non mangio carne… Lo sai!
Come on, I don't eat meat… You know that!
Sono vegetariana, quindi cerchiamo un posto con opzioni vegetariane per stasera.
I'm vegetarian, so let's find a place with vegetarian options for tonight.
Vorrei un piatto senza carne, per favore.
I would like a dish without meat, please.
Vorrei un piatto senza carne.
I would like a dish without meat.
Questo sugo è senza carne?
Is this sauce without meat?
Cerco una ricetta senza carne.
I am looking for a recipe without meat.

At a restaurant, Sofia is checking the menu with Francesco.

Sources

IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (senza, carne) and can differ in connected speech.
Word origins: Wiktionary entries carne, senza, CC BY-SA 4.0.

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏