Spanish Phrase
¿Tienen algo vegetariano?
Meaning
A polite way to ask a waiter, shop clerk, or any service staff whether they offer any vegetarian options. It can refer to dishes, snacks, or packaged foods.
When to use
Use this sentence in restaurants, cafés, cafeterías, street‑food stalls, or grocery stores when you want to know if there are vegetarian choices available. It works both in casual and slightly formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
¿Tienenalgovegetariano?
Tienen (present of tener)
Third‑person plural present of 'tener', used here as a polite/formal way to ask the staff if they have something.
algo (indefinite pronoun)
Means 'something' or 'any', and is neuter; it does not change gender or number.
vegetariano (adjective agreement)
Adjectives that modify 'algo' stay in masculine singular form, even if the actual food might be feminine.
Question marks
Spanish uses an opening (¿) and closing (?) question mark; both are required.
🗨In Conversation
¿Tienen algo vegetariano?
Do you have anything vegetarian?
Sí, tenemos una ensalada de quinoa y una pizza sin carne.
Yes, we have a quinoa salad and a meat‑free pizza.
✕Common Mistakes
¿Tienen algo vegetarian?
The English word must be translated to the Spanish adjective 'vegetariano'.
¿Tienes algo vegetariano?
Use 'tienen' (plural/polite) when speaking to staff; 'tienes' is informal singular and can sound too familiar.
Tienen algo vegetariano?
Never omit the opening inverted question mark; it is required in Spanish.
↔Alternatives
¿Hay opciones vegetarianas?
Are there vegetarian options?
¿Tienen platos vegetarianos?
Do you have vegetarian dishes?
¿Ofrecen comida vegetariana?
Do you offer vegetarian food?
Cultural Tip
Vegetarianism is growing in popularity across Spanish‑speaking countries, but menus may not always label dishes as 'vegetariano'. Using this phrase shows respect and signals your dietary preference. In more formal settings, you can also say '¿Usted tiene algo vegetariano?' to address a single staff member politely.