Italian Phrase
Ci sono noci?
Meaning
A simple yes/no question asking whether nuts are present. It can refer to nuts in a dish, a bakery item, a snack, or any food context.
When to use
Use this phrase at restaurants, cafés, bakeries, or when checking ingredients for allergies. It’s also handy when you’re curious about a dish on a menu or a homemade recipe.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Cisononoci
Ci (impersonal pronoun)
Used here as an impersonal pronoun meaning 'there' or 'are there', similar to English 'there is/are'.
sono (verb essere)
Third‑person plural present of 'essere' (to be). It agrees with the plural noun that follows.
noci (plural noun)
Plural of 'noce' (nut). No article is needed after 'ci sono' when asking a yes/no question.
🗨In Conversation
Ci sono noci nella torta?
Are there nuts in the cake?
Sì, ci sono noci. Vuole una fetta senza noci?
Yes, there are nuts. Would you like a slice without nuts?
✕Common Mistakes
Ci è noci?
Use 'sono' (are) with plural nouns, not 'è' (is).
Ci sono nocci?
The correct plural of 'noce' is 'noci', not 'nocci'.
Ci sono le noci?
When asking a yes/no question, the article is usually omitted after 'ci sono'.
↔Alternatives
Ci sono delle noci?
Are there any nuts?
Ci sono noci nella ricetta?
Are there nuts in the recipe?
Sono presenti noci?
Are nuts present?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, many desserts—especially in the north—contain hazelnuts, almonds, or walnuts. Because food allergies are taken seriously, it’s polite to ask about nuts before ordering. In some regions, the word 'nocciola' (hazelnut) is more common than the generic 'noce', so you might hear 'Ci sono nocciole?' when the dish contains hazelnuts specifically.