🌾🚫🙅ℹ️

How to Say ‘I can't tolerate gluten, you see.’ in German

Ich vertrage nämlich kein Gluten.

ikh fer-TRAH-geh NAYM-likh kine gloo-TAYN

[ikh fer-TRAH-geh NAYM-likh kine gloo-TAYN]

💬 Usage Tip: nämlich adds "you see" or "the reason is" to explain what you just asked. It never starts the sentence. It sits after the verb.

🇩🇪 In Germany: Staff take vertragen seriously as a health need, not a mere preference. If it's a real allergy, say Ich bin allergisch gegen... "I'm allergic to...".

Phrase Breakdown

Ich vertrage nämlich

ikh fer-TRAH-geh NAYM-likh

You see, I tolerate

'Nämlich' gives a reason, like 'you see' or 'because'. Say 'NEM-lich'.

Example

Ich komme später, ich arbeite nämlich.

I'm coming later, because I'm working.

Words in this phrase

Ich

[ikh]

The pronoun 'ich' in nominative form.

Example

Ich bin da.

I am here.

vertrage

[fer-TRAH-geh]

tolerate (food)

From 'vertragen'; used to say your body can or can't handle a food.

Example

Ich vertrage keine Milch.

I can't tolerate milk.

nämlich

[NAYM-likh]

you see / because

Gives a reason or explanation for what was just said.

Example

Ich komme nicht, ich bin nämlich krank.

I'm not coming, I'm sick, you see.

kein Gluten.

kine gloo-TAYN

no gluten.

Lower your voice at the end of the statement.

Example

Hafer enthält oft kein Gluten.

Oats often contain no gluten.

Words in this phrase

kein

[kine]

no / not a

Used with Problem to form the polite phrase Kein Problem.

Example

Kein Problem, wir finden einen neuen Termin.

No problem, we’ll find a new appointment.

Gluten

[gloo-TAYN]

gluten

Protein found in wheat, barley and oats; some people must avoid it.

Example

Dieses Brot enthält Gluten.

This bread contains gluten.

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