Italian Phrase
Niente cipolla, per favore.
Meaning
Literally ‘No onion, please.’ The speaker is asking that the dish be prepared without any onion, using a polite request.
When to use
Use this phrase at restaurants, cafés, or any food‑service setting when you want to customize your order and ask the staff to leave out onion. It works for both sit‑down meals and take‑away orders.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nientecipolla,perfavore.
Niente as a negating adjective
When placed before a singular noun, *niente* works like ‘no’ or ‘none’, and it does not require an article.
Per favore = please
A polite phrase used after a request; it literally means ‘for favor’ and is the standard way to say ‘please’ in Italian.
Word order
The typical order is *Niente + noun + per favore*; you can also say *Senza + noun* for ‘without’.
🗨In Conversation
Cosa desidera?
What would you like?
Niente cipolla, per favore.
No onion, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Non niente cipolla, per favore.
‘Non niente’ is a double negative and sounds unnatural; use just *niente* or *senza*.
Niente la cipolla, per favore.
Do not use the definite article before the noun after *niente*.
Niente cipolla, per piacere.
*Per piacere* is understood but less common in everyday requests; stick with *per favore*.
↔Alternatives
Senza cipolla, per favore.
Without onion, please.
Non mettere la cipolla, per favore.
Don’t put the onion, please.
Niente cipolla.
No onion.
Cultural Tip
In Italy it’s very common to specify ingredients you don’t want. While *niente* works, many Italians prefer *senza* (without) for a slightly more formal tone. Adding *per favore* keeps the request courteous. Remember that the staff will usually repeat the order back to confirm, so you’ll hear *senza cipolla* or *niente cipolla* repeated.