Spanish Phrase
Sin cebolla, porfa.
Meaning
A friendly, informal way to ask for a dish to be prepared without onions. The phrase combines a clear request (sin cebolla) with the casual ‘porfa’ to keep the tone polite yet relaxed.
When to use
Use this when ordering food at a restaurant, café, or street stall, especially with waitstaff you’ve already spoken to or in a casual setting with friends. Avoid it in very formal contexts or when speaking to someone you don’t know well.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sincebollaporfa
Sin (preposition)
‘Sin’ means ‘without’ and is followed directly by a noun without an article.
cebolla (noun)
‘Cebolla’ is a feminine noun meaning ‘onion’; it does not need an article after ‘sin’.
porfa (colloquial)
‘Porfa’ is an informal contraction of ‘por favor’ used in casual speech to soften a request.
🗨In Conversation
Quisiera una hamburguesa, sin cebolla, porfa.
I’d like a hamburger, without onions, please.
Claro, sin cebolla. ¿Algo más?
Sure, no onions. Anything else?
✕Common Mistakes
Sin la cebolla, porfa.
After ‘sin’ you don’t use the definite article ‘la’; the noun stands alone.
Porfa sin cebolla.
The natural order is ‘Sin cebolla, porfa’; swapping sounds awkward.
Sin cebolla porfa!
Adding an exclamation mark can make the request sound demanding; keep it neutral or use a polite tone.
↔Alternatives
Sin cebolla, por favor.
Without onion, please.
Sin cebolla, gracias.
No onions, thank you.
Sin cebolla, porfa, sin picante.
No onions, please, and no spice.
Cultural Tip
‘Porfa’ is widely understood across Spanish‑speaking countries but is considered slang. It’s perfect for friends, family, or a relaxed restaurant vibe, but in a formal setting you should stick to the full ‘por favor’. Also, note that in some regions (e.g., Spain) the ‘c’ in ‘cebolla’ is pronounced /θ/, while in Latin America it’s /s/. Both are correct.