Italian Phrase
È senza glutine?
Meaning
A short, polite way to ask whether a dish, ingredient, or product contains no gluten. It is commonly used by people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance when they need to verify the safety of what they are about to eat.
When to use
Use this phrase in restaurants, cafés, bakeries, or grocery stores when you want to confirm that a food item is gluten‑free. It works equally well for packaged products (e.g., “Questo pane è senza glutine?”) and for freshly prepared dishes.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Èsenzaglutine?
È (essere)
Third‑person singular present of the verb *essere* used for statements and questions about identity or characteristics.
senza
A preposition meaning “without”. It is followed directly by a noun with no article.
glutine
Masculine singular noun meaning “gluten”. In food contexts it refers to the protein found in wheat, barley and rye.
Question mark
In spoken Italian the intonation rises at the end; in writing the question mark follows the whole clause.
🗨In Conversation
È senza glutine?
Is it gluten‑free?
Sì, è senza glutine. Abbiamo anche un menu dedicato.
Yes, it’s gluten‑free. We also have a dedicated menu.
✕Common Mistakes
È senza il glutine?
The preposition *senza* does not take an article; the correct form is *senza glutine*.
Non è senza glutine?
This double negative can be confusing; use *è senza glutine?* for a clear question.
È gluten free?
Mixing English and Italian sounds unnatural; stick to the Italian phrase.
↔Alternatives
È privo di glutine?
Is it free of gluten?
Non contiene glutine?
Does it not contain gluten?
Questo è senza glutine?
Is this gluten‑free?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, food labeling is regulated, and many restaurants now display a small wheat‑stalk symbol (or a crossed‑out wheat icon) to indicate gluten‑free options. However, it’s still polite to ask, especially in smaller, family‑run places where the menu may not be fully updated. Remember that “senza” never takes an article, so say “senza glutine”, not “senza il glutine”.