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How to Say ‘No, I'm lactose intolerant.’ in German

Nein, ich vertrage keine Laktose.

Nine ikh fer-TRAH-geh kigh-neh lak-TOH-zeh

[Nine ikh fer-TRAH-geh kigh-neh lak-TOH-zeh]

🇩🇪 In Germany: Germans hear this as a plain, matter-of-fact explanation, not an overshare. For a true allergy, say Ich bin allergisch gegen… "I'm allergic to…" so staff take it seriously.

Phrase Breakdown

Nein, ich vertrage

Nine ikh fer-TRAH-geh

No, I tolerate

Pause briefly after 'Nein'. The 'v' in 'vertrage' sounds like 'f'.

Example

Nein, ich vertrage das nicht.

No, I can't tolerate that.

Words in this phrase

Nein

[Nine]

Used to give a negative response or to disagree with something.

Example

Nein, das war alles, was ich wollte.

No, that was all I wanted.

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.

keine Laktose.

kigh-neh lak-TOH-zeh

no lactose.

Together with the first part, it means 'I'm lactose intolerant'. Stress 'lak-TOH-ze'.

Example

Ich trinke Milch ohne Laktose.

I drink milk without lactose.

Words in this phrase

keine

[kigh-neh]

Not a single one; indicating the absence of something.

Example

Es gibt keinen einzigen, und auch keine mehr zu finden.

There is not a single one, and also no more to find.

Laktose

[lak-TOH-zeh]

lactose

The sugar found in milk; many people are intolerant to it.

Example

Diese Milch enthält keine Laktose.

This milk contains no lactose.

Guides for German learners

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