I have a dairy allergy.
lat-tee-CHEE-nee — stress on third syllable. 'ci' = 'ch' sound. 'allergia' = al-lehr-JEE-ah.
Use this when the severity requires medical framing. 'Allergia' signals a serious condition versus intolerance, prompting kitchen staff to take extra care.
Note the elision 'un'allergia' — the article 'una' drops its final vowel before a word starting with a vowel. 'Latticini' is the plural collective for dairy products. This phrasing is more serious than 'intollerante al lattosio'.
Sono allergico al latte.
I am allergic to milk.
More specific to milk itself.
Il piatto contiene latticini?
Does the dish contain dairy?
Direct ingredient check.
Potete prepararlo senza burro?
Can you prepare it without butter?
Specific request for butter-free preparation.
Italian chefs take pride in accommodating guests properly. Framing an allergy clearly and politely almost always results in the kitchen making genuine accommodations rather than just removing visible ingredients.