Spanish Phrase
¿Este postre no tiene gluten?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether the dessert they are looking at or about to order is free of gluten. The question is phrased as a negative‑yes question, which in Spanish often expects a confirmation (“sí, no lo tiene”) or a correction (“sí, lo tiene”).
When to use
Use this sentence in restaurants, cafés, bakeries, or at a friend’s house when you need to confirm that a sweet treat is safe for a gluten‑intolerant or celiac diet. It’s also handy when reading menus or product labels.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estepostrenotienegluten
Este (demonstrative adjective)
Used to point out a specific noun that is close to the speaker; it agrees in gender and number with the noun.
postre (noun)
A masculine singular noun meaning “dessert.”
no (negation)
Placed before the verb to negate the statement.
tiene (present of tener)
Third‑person singular of the verb “tener,” used here to ask about the presence of an ingredient.
gluten (loanword)
A borrowed term from English; it stays unchanged in Spanish and is treated as a masculine singular noun.
🗨In Conversation
¿Este postre no tiene gluten?
Does this dessert not contain gluten?
No, no lo tiene. Es apto para celíacos.
No, it doesn’t. It’s safe for celiacs.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Este postre no es gluten?
Using "es" (ser) sounds unnatural here; "tener" is the verb used to talk about the presence of ingredients.
Este postre no tiene gluten?
Leaving out the opening inverted question mark makes the sentence look like a statement.
¿Este postre no tiene el gluten?
Some learners add an article (el) before gluten, but the noun is used without an article when talking about the ingredient.
↔Alternatives
¿Este postre es sin gluten?
Is this dessert gluten‑free?
¿Este postre contiene gluten?
Does this dessert contain gluten?
¿Este postre está libre de gluten?
Is this dessert free of gluten?
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, gluten‑free labeling is not as standardized as in the U.S. or Europe. It’s polite to ask the staff directly and, if you have celiac disease, to mention it (“Soy celíaco/a”) so they understand the seriousness. Also, remember that “no tiene gluten” is a negative‑yes question; native speakers may answer with a simple “Sí” (meaning “yes, it doesn’t have gluten”) or “No” (meaning “no, it does have gluten”).