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PhrasesAt the PizzeriaPosso avere la pizza senza acciughe?
A2formal

Posso avere la pizza senza acciughe?

Can I have the pizza without anchovies?

Pronunciation

ac-CIU-ghe — three syllables, 'gh' is hard. Stress on second syllable.

When to use it

When ordering a pizza that includes anchovies (like Napoli or puttanesca) but you do not like or are allergic to fish.

What it means

'Senza acciughe' = without anchovies. This is a common modification request. Anchovies ('acciughe') appear in several traditional Italian pizzas. The word 'alici' is also used for fresh anchovies — 'acciughe' usually refers to the salted preserved variety.

Variations

Posso avere la pizza senza capperi?

Can I have the pizza without capers?

Capers ('capperi') are another divisive ingredient in pizza

Senza olive, per favore.

Without olives, please.

Olives are in many pizza variations — easy to remove

Potete togliere le acciughe e aggiungere più mozzarella?

Can you remove the anchovies and add more mozzarella?

Replace one ingredient with more of another — a common modification

Mini Dialogue

— Posso avere la pizza senza acciughe? — Certo — vuole qualcosa al posto? — Mettete più mozzarella se possibile. — Nessun problema — viene ancora meglio!

— Can I have the pizza without anchovies? — Of course — would you like something in their place? — Put more mozzarella if possible. — No problem — it will be even better!

Cultural Note

Anchovies are one of the most divisive pizza toppings in Italy — people either love them intensely or refuse to touch them. The 'pizza Napoli' (tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, capers, olives) is a classic but polarising pizza. In Naples, good quality anchovies are from Cetara, a small fishing village near Amalfi.